Sundowns Prepare Tactical Shift for Club World Cup Group F in US

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has cautioned his team to expect significantly less ball possession at the upcoming Club World Cup, contrasting with their usual dominance in South Africa’s domestic league where they often control 70% or more of possession. The Pretoria-based club faces a challenging Group F alongside Brazilian champions Fluminense, Germany’s Borussia Dortmund, and South Korea’s Ulsan Hyundai, with Fluminense and Dortmund favored to advance. Cardoso highlighted Dortmund’s high-tempo, aggressive style as a distinct challenge, differing from what Sundowns usually encounter domestically and in African competitions. Since joining Sundowns in 2024 after a stint at Esperance, Cardoso has led the team to an eighth consecutive national championship, though they fell short of a treble following a semi-final FA Cup loss and a CAF Champions League final defeat to Egypt’s Pyramids. The squad combines local and international talent, including South Africans, Brazilians, and other African players, as they prepare mentally for the tactical adjustments needed against elite global opponents. Cardoso also rejected the notion that African clubs lack defensive organization, attributing Sundowns' continental final loss to costly mistakes rather than systemic issues.