Mamelodi Sundowns - Ulsan HD (1-0): match summary and goals from the Club World Cup

Mamelodi Sundowns made history by becoming the first African club to win a match in the expanded format of the FIFA Club World Cup, securing a 1-0 victory over Ulsan Hyundai (South Korea) on the opening day of Group F.

Despite a delayed kickoff due to adverse weather conditions and lightning risk, the South African champions set the tempo. Iqraam Rayners netted the only goal of the match in the 36th minute, rewarding his team's dominance.

The match delivered plenty of drama, with two Sundowns goals ruled out: the first for offside, the second for a handball in the box.

Group leaders and on track for the round of 16

With these three points, Sundowns move alone to the top of Group F, taking advantage of the draw between Borussia Dortmund and Fluminense. It's a huge step toward the round of 16, confirming the South African club's ambitions on the global stage.

This campaign marks Sundowns' big return to the Club World Cup, eight years after their last appearance in 2016. This time, they qualified through the CAF ranking, finishing second in the continental standings among African clubs.

Also read: Club World Cup 2025: 4 things to know about Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso!

Mohamed Rek |

Editorfr, ar, en

Mohamed Rek- sports content writer with over 10 years of experience creating football content in Arabic and French for platforms such as Foot Africa and Starafrica, combining accuracy, creativity, and audience engagement.