FIFA Club World Cup

FIFA Club World Cup: Three Outright Tips for the Knockout Round

The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup is finally underway, and while supporters of clubs not featured this summer are enjoying slandering the competition, for others, the American showpiece has been an enjoyable watch. Both Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain picked up thumping wins in their tournament openers, with the Bavarians beating Auckland City 10-0, and the Parisians beating Atletico Madrid by four. But it's Real Madrid that are in the headlines following their respective curtain raiser.

Los Blancos headed into the tournament this summer as the favorite with online sports betting sites to leave MetLife Stadium with the trophy next month. However, a disappointing opening day draw with Al Hilal in which captain Federico Valverde saw his injury-time penalty saved has seen the Spanish giants tumble down the sports betting charts. Now, the latest of Bovada's sport betting odds make the aforementioned PSG the 5/2 favorites to lift the trophy, with Real a distant 6/1.

But Real Madrid's seeming fall from grace has opened the door to a plethora of futures bets that could cash big in the coming weeks. Here are three picks that we have our eyes on.

Top Scorer: Jamal Musiala

It looked as though Bayern Munich ace Jamal Musiala would be rested for his side's opening game against Auckland City. Then, he came off the bench, netted a quickfire hat-trick, and shot to the top spot in the top goalscorers charts. As such, the bookies now make him a 4/1 favorite to finish the tournament with the Golden Boot, and we can certainly see that happening as well.

Musiala isn't always a regular on the goalscorers sheet, but he does chip in with goals on occasion. However, with three already under his belt, another three - perhaps even just two - goals would probably be enough to ensure this bet cashes. With games against Boca Juniors and Benfica on the horizon, there is certainly a potential for him to net at least one more before the group stage is over.

In the first knockout round, Bayern's likely opponent is Brazilian outfit Flamengo, and that is a game that the Bavarians will fancy their chances at winning. Then, a quarterfinal with either Atletico Madrid, Palmeiras, or Botafogo will loom, and Bayern will fancy their chances there as well. That provides ample opportunity for Musiala to at least double his current goals haul, and that should be enough for a bet on him to finish as the top scorer to cash at 4/1.

Reach the Semifinals: Juventus

Perhaps no team had a better opening game than Italian giants Juventus. The Bianconeri have fallen off somewhat domestically in the last couple of years, but they made a statement in their opener against Abu Dhabi-based Al Ain. They raced into a four-goal lead by half time, before sealing the job in the second half with Francisco Conceição's second of the game securing a resounding 5-0 victory.

Their victory certainly opened plenty of eyes to how good Juve can be on their day, but seemingly not those of the bookies. They still make Igor Tudor's side a whopping 5/1 outsider to reach the semifinals. And we certainly think they have a great chance of doing exactly that, especially at such odds.

Admittedly, Juventus are in a tough group alongside Manchester City, but the Blues labored to a 2-0 victory against Wydad in their first game, a team arguably weaker than the one the Italians thumped. Add to that the fact that the Bianconeri have already beaten Pep Guardiola's side this season, and they certainly have a chance of topping the group.

If they do that, Juve will likely face Al Hilal or Salzburg in the second round, before a potential all-Italian quarterfinal against Inter Milan. If they finish runners-up in the group, however, they will be faced with the daunting task of Real Madrid in the Round of 16, before either Borussia Dortmund or River Plate in the quarterfinals. Considering how Los Blancos have started the tournament, the Old Lady won't be too intimidated about the prospect of facing the Spaniards, and it's a clash they are certainly more than capable of winning.

Tournament Winner: Paris Saint-Germain

It's impossible to bet against them, isn't it? Paris Saint-Germain has been, without question, the best team in the world this season. They romped to a domestic double by winning Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France. Then, they thumped Inter Milan 5-0 in the most lopsided UEFA Champions League final to claim the famous big-eared trophy for the first time. Now, they are gunning for a maiden Club World Cup crown, and we think they will be successful in their quest.

PSG without Mbappe

🏆🏆🏆 pic.twitter.com/VrX4q5dFrV

— Bovada (@BovadaOfficial) May 31, 2025

The Parisians' thumping 4-0 victory over Atletico Madrid was a statement of intent. They face a favorable run to the semifinals, and from then on, they will be considered favorites in every match they play. They're 5/2 frontrunners for a reason, and we can see them getting the job done handily.