Sergio Ramos signed for Rayados de Monterrey for this, to play in a Club World Cup where the Spanish centre-back is once again in the world media spotlight. He does so alongside fellow Spaniards Oliver Torres and Sergio Canales. The latter is the undisputed star of Mexican football and captain of one of the country's historic clubs.

The Blue and Whites made it to this event after winning the 2021 CONCACAF Champions League, where they defeated America, then coached by Santiago Solari, in the final. Since then, things have changed a lot, with instability on the bench and only one domestic final, that of the Apertura 2024, in which the ‘Aguilas’ exacted their revenge.

Domenec Torrent will make his Club World Cup debut at the helm of Monterrey, replacing Martin Demichelis, who was sacked after losing in the quarterfinals for the title. There are many unknowns in the performance of the Nuevo Leon club, starting with a brand new bench, although it should be for some individuals in the fight for a place in the round of 16. It will all be to play for in the head-to-head with River Plate.

Monterrey Mundial de Clubes

Squad list

Players to watch

Sergio Canales left Real Betis at a still extraordinary level and two years later he continues to prove it. The playmaker is shining for Rayados de Monterrey, where he has completed the season with 18 goals and 13 assists in 42 games. Whether he is playing ahead of the defensive midfielders or in the wing, all the football of the Mexican club is played through him. We will see where he is positioned in the event of a possible change of scheme by Domenec Torrent.

From there, we must also talk about Sergio Ramos. The 39-year-old centre-back signed at the beginning of the year, and in the nine games he was able to play, he scored four crucial goals. He ended up injured and missed the Liguilla, but will be fit in time for the Club World Cup, where he would be joined as a starting partner by 23-year-old international Victor Guzman. If there is a back three, Stefan Medina would also be involved. On the flanks, the attacking Gerardo Arteaga (left) and Ricardo Chavez (right).

Name for name, where Monterrey accumulates the most talent is in the midfield. In addition to Canales, Oliver Torres has also established himself in Mexico, although more as a creative midfielder alongside the young Fidel Ambriz than on the edge of the box, where the youth product Iker Fimbres or the former Sevilla players Tecatito Corona and Lucas Ocampos stand out. However, the Argentinian has gone from strength to strength. Up front, the reference: German Berterame. The striker has scored 22 goals this season, 51 in total in the Rayados shirt.

Coach

Domenec Torrent is Monterrey's fourth coach in two years, after Víctor Vucetich, Fernando Ortiz and Martin Demichelis. The 62-year-old Spaniard, Pep Guardiola's assistant for a decade, arrives with experience in Mexican football after having coached Atletico San Luis last season, with whom he was a semi-finalist in the Apertura 2024, although in his last six months, he failed to finish higher than 15th place.

The trajectory of the coach from Santa Coloma de Farnes (Girona) has also taken him to coach New York City, Flamengo and Galatasaray on his own. Now he has the opportunity to coach in a tournament such as the Club World Cup, where he will make his debut after just two matches against Tijuana and Atlante. During his career, he has opted more for a three-centre back formation, but he could give continuity to the 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3-3 with which Rayados have been playing in recent years.

Domènec Torrent Monterrey

Group stage fixtures

Matchday 1

Monterrey will make their debut on Wednesday, 18th June, at the Rose Bowl Stadium (Los Angeles) against Inter Milan, the reigning Champions League runners-up. It will be a tough opener for the Mexicans, who will be facing a European club for the third time in an official match after being eliminated in the semi-finals of the 2012 and 2019 Club World Cups against Chelsea (1-3) and Liverpool (1-2).

Matchday 2

On the second matchday, Monterrey play again on Sunday, 22nd June, at the Rose Bowl Stadium (Los Angeles) against River Plate. This will be the most decisive match for Rayados, who, according to forecasts, could play head-to-head for second place with the Argentinians. The relationship between the two clubs for sponsorship reasons is good, and they met in January 2023 and 2024 in friendly matches. The first was won by the 'Millonario' 1-0, while in the second they drew 1-1.

Matchday 3

Finally, Domenech Torrent's side will face their third match at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena on Thursday, 26th June, against Japan's Urawa Reds. They have never met, but it will be their second match against a Japanese team after playing Kashiwa Reysol in the quarter-finals of the 2011 Club World Cup, with whom they drew 1-1 but lost on penalties.

Grupo E Mundial Clubes

Possible starting XI

Sergio Canales

Achievements