This will be Ulsan Hyundai's third Club World Cup appearance but, to date, they've lost all four matches they've played at the tournament, conceding 11 goals.
Similarly, Mamelodi Sundowns have only featured at the competition once before, losing both matches in 2016, including a 4-1 defeat at the hands of Ulsan's fierce rivals Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors.
Ulsan HD vs Mamelodi Sundowns preview
Fair to say, these two teams are both massive underdogs to progress through Group F, making this a crucial opener for both at Inter&Co Stadium. Mamelodi Sundowns have become the dominant force in South African football in recent times, claiming an eighth straight Premiership title this year, finishing 12 points clear of runners-up Orlando Pirates. On the continent too, the Brazilians won the CAF Champions League for the very first time in 2016, before also becoming the inaugural, and possibly only ever, African Football League winners in November 2023.
This season, the Masandawana got all the way to the Champions League Final again, dumping out fellow-Club World Cup participants Espérance de Tunis and Al Ahly en route, before a heartbreaking 3-2 aggregate defeat to Pyramids FC in Cairo on 1 June. So, the Sundowns are clearly one of Africa's strongest sides, but can they now make their mark on a global stage in Florida?
As for Ulsan HD, they were crowned champions of Asia in both 2012 and 2020 and are currently enjoying their most-successful ever period domestically. Having only won the K League twice since being founded in 1983, the Tigers have since won three successive Korean titles, albeit they're currently third in the table, nine points adrift the leaders.
Kim Pan-gon's team were also ignominiously dumped out in the league phase of this season's AFC Champions League, losing six of seven fixtures, their sole victory come over Shanghai Shenhua in December. So, most make Mamelodi Sundowns favourites when the champions of South Korea and South Africa go head-to-head in Orlando on Tuesday.
Ulsan HD vs Mamelodi Sundowns head-to-head record
These two clubs have never previously met.
Ulsan HD team news
Centre-back Miłosz Trojak is expected to make his debut, having arrived from Korona Kielce on a free transfer; he was the captain of the Ekstraklasa outfit. He'll now partner Ulsan HD's own skipper Kim Young-gwon, while former Bolton and Crystal Palace winger Lee Chung-yong, now 36 years old, will be a familiar face to Premier League viewers.
Ulsan HD predicted lineup vs Mamelodi Sundowns: (4-4-2): Jo Hyeon-woo; Kang Sang-woo, Trojak, Kim Young-gwon, Ludwigson; Bojanić, Jung Woo-young, Lee Chung-yong, Ko Seung-beom; Um Won-sang, Farias.
Ulsan HD player to watch vs Mamelodi Sundowns
Brazilian striker Erick Farias is Ulsan HD's main man for goals, having netted nine times in just 15 appearances for the club since arriving from Juventude as recently as March.
Mamelodi Sundowns team news
Mamelodi Sundowns as a club pride themselves on their 'Shoe Shine & Piano' style of football, so expect Miguel Cardoso's side to be on the front foot and forward-thinking from the word go.
Goalkeeper Ronwen Williams has the potential to be a star of this tournament. In February 2024, he became the first man to save four spot-kicks in an Africa Cup of Nations shootout at South Africa dumped out Cape Verde in the quarter-finals in Yamoussoukro.
Mamelodi Sundowns predicted lineup vs Ulsan HD: (4-3-3): Williams; Mudau, Kekana, Lebusa, Modiba; Mokoena, Allende, Ribeiro, Arthur Sales, Matthews; Rayners.
Mamelodi Sundowns player to watch vs Ulsan HD
Iqraam Rayners will continue to be the Sundowns' primary goal threat, having netted 22 times during his debut campaign for the club, one of which came last time out against Pyramids.
Ulsan HD vs Mamelodi Sundowns prediction
We're backing Mamelodi Sundowns for a narrow victory in Orlando, as both clubs go in search of, what would be, an historic first-ever Club World Cup triumph: Ulsan HD 1-2 Mamelodi Sundowns.
Ulsan HD vs Mamelodi Sundowns FAQs - FIFA Club World Cup
How to watch Ulsan HD vs Mamelodi Sundowns FIFA Club World Cup game on TV channel?
Ulsan HD vs Mamelodi Sundowns FIFA Club World Cup game will be available on the following TV channels;
- UK: DAZN UK
- USA: DAZN USA.
- Canada: DAZN Canada
How to watch Ulsan HD vs Mamelodi Sundowns FIFA Club World Cup game on live streaming?
Ulsan HD vs Mamelodi Sundowns FIFA Club World Cup game will be available on the following streaming services;
- UK: DAZN UK
- USA: DAZN USA.
- Canada: DAZN Canada
What is the date and kick-off time for Ulsan HD vs Mamelodi Sundowns in the FIFA Club World Cup?
Ulsan HD vs Mamelodi Sundowns takes place on Tuesday 17 June 2025, with kick off at 23:00 (BST), 18:00 (EDT) & 15:00 (PDT).