Club World Cup will be a good test for Sundowns, says Miguel Cardoso

The Brazilians have won the South African top-fight for the past seven seasons, and were losing finalists to Egypt's Pyramids in the 2025 CAF Champions League final.

Downs face Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund, Brazilian Serie A side Fluminense and K League team Ulsan HD FC in the international club competition.

First up for Cardoso's team is a clash against Ulsan at the Inter & Co Stadium on Wednesday 18 June 2025.

Ahead of the game, the Sundowns boss said on Goal: "After my experience as an assistant coach in UEFA Champions League and Europa League matches, being involved in the Club World Cup is a big achievement."

Cardoso previously competed at the Club World Cup with Tunisian club Esperance.

"For me, it's a very particular position - a clear highlight in any coach's career," the coach added.

"We know we're one of the biggest teams in Africa, but this is a test to see where we stand on the global stage," he said. "The mindset here is strong - focused on performance, achieving goals, and winning trophies. We want to understand our level compared to the world's best.

"The worst thing would be to finish a game feeling we didn't play to our level because we carried unnecessary weight on the pitch.

"Our players should enjoy the experience and express the joy of African football - on and off the pitch."