Monterrey vs Internazionale

Inter Milan Look to Bounce Back as Club World Cup Kicks Off

After a bitter end to their 2024-25 campaign, Inter Milan are ready to turn the page as they begin their Club World Cup journey against Mexico’s Monterrey in Pasadena on Tuesday.

The Serie A and Champions League runners-up, now under new leadership, find themselves in a competitive Group E alongside Monterrey, Argentina’s River Plate, and Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds.

Inter, one of two Italian teams in the revamped tournament (alongside Juventus), secured their spot thanks to UEFA’s four-year rankings. Their strong performances—including a run to the 2023 Champions League final, where they narrowly lost to Manchester City—helped cement their place.

But last season’s painful 5-0 thrashing by Paris Saint-Germain—just days after surrendering the Serie A title to Napoli—sparked major changes. Manager Simone Inzaghi departed for Saudi Arabia, paving the way for former Inter defender Cristian Chivu to take charge. Despite his limited top-level experience, Chivu impressed during a brief stint at Parma and knows the club inside out, having previously coached Inter’s youth team.

With a rich history in global competitions—including two Intercontinental Cup wins in the 1960s—Inter will be eager to make a deep run this summer. But it won’t be easy: after facing Monterrey at the iconic Rose Bowl, they’ll take on Urawa Red Diamonds before a blockbuster clash with River Plate in Seattle.

Monterrey Aiming to Make Their Mark

While Tuesday’s match marks the first competitive meeting between these sides, they do share a bit of history—Inter beat Monterrey 3-1 in a 1994 friendly during the Tecate Cup in Mexico.

Monterrey, one of two Liga MX teams in this expanded tournament, earned their place by winning the 2021 CONCACAF Champions League—their fifth continental title in 10 years. Their best Club World Cup finishes came in 2012 and 2019 (both third place), but this year’s stronger field presents a tougher challenge.

Despite domestic success—five league titles, though none since 2019—Monterrey have struggled recently, crashing out of last season’s Clausura quarter-finals and falling short in the CONCACAF Champions Cup. Those disappointments led to manager Martín Demichelis’s exit, with former Barcelona and Manchester City assistant Domènec Torrent taking over.

Torrent, who had mixed spells at Galatasaray and Flamengo, now leads a squad bolstered by seasoned La Liga imports and a core of Latin American internationals. Can they spring a surprise and escape Group E?

With both teams hungry for redemption, this clash promises fireworks as the Club World Cup gets underway.