Pachuca vs Salzburg

Pachuca from Mexico’s Liga MX will kick off their Club World Cup journey against Austria’s Red Bull Salzburg at TQL Stadium on Wednesday, with both teams eager to make a strong start.

The Tuzos are aiming for consecutive victories this week, while Die Roten Bullen are chasing a third straight win. Jaime Lozano’s Pachuca had an uneven 2024-25 season in Mexico, placing 16th in the Torneo Apertura but reaching the play-in round in the Torneo Clausura.

To shake off their inconsistent league form, they edged out Saudi Pro League’s Al Ahly in a friendly on June 8, securing a 1-1 draw after regular time and winning via penalties. However, that result marked only their second victory in six games since early April, a run that includes two draws and two defeats, highlighting their recent inconsistency.

Facing tough Group H opponents like Real Madrid, Al Hilal, and Salzburg, Pachuca are considered underdogs and face an uphill battle to advance from the group stage. To have any hope of progressing as one of the top two teams, they’ll need at least a draw against Salzburg, one of the group’s non-Real Madrid sides.

On the other hand, Salzburg experienced a turbulent season, with manager Pepijn Lijnders sacked in December and replaced by Thomas Letsch. Under Letsch, the team finished second in the Austrian Bundesliga’s championship round, closing the campaign with two consecutive wins.

As Letsch prepares for his first full season in charge, the Club World Cup offers a chance to build momentum. However, Salzburg haven’t played competitively since their 4-2 league win over SK Rapid on May 24, as a friendly against Seekirchen was canceled, raising concerns about potential rustiness.

While neither team is truly at home in this neutral-venue match, Salzburg’s recent away form—losing two of their last three road games and failing to keep a clean sheet on the road since March—could pose challenges in Cincinnati.

A victory here would position Salzburg well for advancement, especially with a manageable schedule that includes Al Hilal next before facing Real Madrid the following Friday.