Mamelodi Sundowns return to the FIFA Club World Cup hoping to shed their underachiever tag on the global stage. Despite years of domestic dominance and continental silverware, the Masandawana are still chasing a first win at this tournament. Can they finally deliver against Ulsan Hyundai, Borussia Dortmund and Fluminense?
1) Who will Mamelodi Sundowns face at the Club World Cup?
Mamelodi Sundowns have been drawn into Group F and these are their group stage fixtures:
17 June: vs Ulsan Hyundai. Inter&Co Stadium, Orlando.
21 June: vs Borussia Dortmund. TQL Stadium, Cincinnati.
25 June: vs Fluminense. Hard Rock Stadium, Miami.
2) South African supremacy
Mamelodi Sundowns are 18-times South African champions, the most of any cub, ahead of both Kaizer Chiefs (12) and Orlando Pirates (9) when it comes to league title victory.
It wasn't always this way though, with ten of the Masandawana's triumphs coming since 2014, securing a record-extending eighth successive South African Premiership crown this season.
3) Continental success
This domestic domination has allowed the Sundowns to become a force on the continent too. Back in 2016, they won the CAF Champions League for the very first time, defeating Zamalek in the final, prevailing 3-0 in the first leg in Pretoria, before holding out with a 1-0 defeat in Alexandria.
The Sundowns then won the inaugural African Football League in November 2023, ousting Wydad Casablanca 3-2 on aggregate in that particular final. With that competition having seemingly been abolished, although no one is quite sure, they may remain the only winners in history.
4) A heartbreaking end to this season
During this campaign, Mamelodi Sundowns came agonisingly close to be crowned CAF Champions League winners for only the second time. They dumped out two fellow Club World Cup participants, namely Espérance Sportive de Tunis and Al Ahly, in the knockout stages en route to the final, before facing Egyptian upstarts Pyramids FC.
The first leg at Loftus Versfeld ended 1-1, with Lucas Ribeiro Costa firing the hosts in front in Pretoria, only for the visitors to snatch a 94th minute equaliser. Thus, on 1 June, following a 2-1 victory in Cairo, Pyramids were crowned African champions, condemning the Sundowns to defeat.
5) Past Club World Cup expirence
This summer will be Mamelodi Sundowns' second FIFA Club World Cup appearance, seeking a first win. On debut in 2016, they were dumped out in the quarter-finals by Kashima Antlers, defeated 2-0, before also being demolished 4-1 by Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in the match for fifth place in Ōsaka.
6) A familiar kit design
This team are nicknamed the Brazilians for a pretty obvious reason, given that they wear yellow shirts with a green trim, blue shorts and white socks, just like the Seleção.
This though wasn't always the case. Big-spending owner Zola Mahobe, instrumental in the club's first period of success in the 1980s, insisted that they change their colour scheme to match that of Brazil, and the kit design has remained.
7) Mamelodi Sundowns players to watch: Iqraam Rayners
If the Sundowns are going to upset the odds, Iqraam Rayners will be their main man for goals.
Since arriving from Stellenbosch last summer, the 29 year old has scored 22 goals in just 43 appearances for the club, on target in five successive league matches towards the end of the campaign, before netting in vain against Pyramids FC in Cairo last time out.
8) Mamelodi Sundowns players to watch: Ronwen Williams
At the other end of the pitch, goalkeeper Ronwen Williams will also be a key figure. Now 33, he's racked up 120 appearances for the Sundowns since joining in 2022, keeping 73 clean sheets.
He was also the goalkeeper of the tournament at the most-recent Africa Cup of Nations in January/February 2023, as Bafana Bafana reached the semi-final for the first time since 2000.
Williams made history in the quarter-finals, becoming the first man ever to save four spot-kicks in an AFCON shootout, as South Africa ousted Cape Verde in Yamoussoukro, so watch out for his penalty saving exploits this summer too.
9) Manager Miguel Cardoso: just getting started
Miguel Cardoso has only been in charge of the Sundowns since December, arriving having been sacked by Espérance Sportive de Tunis, so he would certainly have enjoyed dumping them out of the CAF Champions League in April.
The 53 year old has previously been in charge of Rio Ave twice, Nantes, Celta Vigo and AEK Athens across Europe, so is vastly experienced, hoping to become only the second Sundowns manager in history, after Pitso Mosimane, to reach 100 matches in charge; only 69 to go!
10) Will the Sundowns get out of the group?
Mamelodi Sundowns will kick off their Club World Cup campaign by facing Ulsan HD in Orlando, before taking on Borussia Dortmund in Cincinnati and then Fluminense back in South Florida.
In terms of reaching the round of 16, the Masandawana are certainly up against it, with their tournament opener by far their best chance of claiming that illusive first Club World Cup win.