Club World Cup Scouting Report: Boca Juniors have the pedigree, but can they navigate out of a tough group?

The Argentine side have struggled on the pitch of late, but will be a fun watch for their raucous fans in the U.S.

Football is about brands. And Boca Juniors have one of the strongest in the game. After all, this is the club of Diego Maradona, Juan Ramon Riquelme, and countless other legends of South American football. The rivalry between Barcelona and Real Madrid might be the biggest in Europe, but the Superclasico - fought between Boca and River Plate - is the most fearsome in the world of soccer.

Want soccer in its most passionate, raw and captivating form? Head to the Bombanera.

Historically, only arch-rival River have been more successful in domestic soccer - although they have won more Copas Libertadores. Lately, though, things have been less successful. Boca's trophy drought stretches back to 2022, with a squad a tier below the quality required to compete at the top of the division. There's not much to be optimistic about, either, as manager Fernando Gago was sacked after a Superclasico loss.

Still, there are some game-changers in the side, including Uruguayan great Edinson Cavani up front - one of the finest forwards of his generation.

The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup will be played in 12 stadiums in 11 U.S. cities, from the opener on June 14 until the final on July 13. In the U.S., fans can stream or watch matches on DAZN or TNT. Leading up to kickoff, GOAL will provide scouting reports on each of the 32 participating teams in the expanded field.

Next up is Boca Juniors, with a look at key players to watch, and expectations for the Argentine stalwarts ahead of this summer's tournament.

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The Basics
DOMESTIC LEAGUE: Argentine Primera Division
CLUB WORLD CUP HISTORY: Lost in 2007 final
GROUP: C (Auckland City, Bayern Munich, Benfica, Boca Juniors)
OPENING MATCH: Benfica - June 16, 6 pm. ET, Miami

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How they got here
Boca qualified thanks to the ranking pathway. Although they lost to Fluminense in the 2023 Copa Libertadores final, the fact that they made such a run gave them enough points to secure a spot.
They benefitted from results elsewhere, too, with Uruguayan side Nacional's early exit from the competition in 2024 giving Boca a narrow advantage on points.
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The player to watch
This hasn't been the best couple of years for Boca, who usually benefit from a fine mix of young talent and veteran experience. And while the old heads are still around, there aren't any spellbinding kids coming through the academy. Edinson Cavani is still a good watch, though, and recently signed a contract extension that will keep him at the club until at least December 2026.
The veteran striker may have lost a step, but his eye for goal hasn't gone anywhere. He found the net 20 times last season, and already has a couple this campaign. And even if he's not banging them in, his veteran leadership will be crucial against the bigger European sides.

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Realistic expectation
If they get the job done against Auckland City, it really depends on what happens around them. Bayern Munich would seem to be too tough of a test, but Benfica - the other team in the group - could be a far kinder match.
A result would put them in contention for an unlikely spot in the knockouts, which would be a solid feat.

The Basics

How they got here

The player to watch

Realistic expectation