Club World Cup Preview – Best Props
Highest Scoring Group – Group C @ +200
It nearly starts to feel a little bad when you look to oppose one side in pretty much any way you can, but you can’t let that get in the way of a great bet. We saw it in the Premier League last season when the promoted sides were an auto fade every single week, and now it is the turn of Auckland City here in the Club World Cup.
The New Zealanders are the only one of the 32 teams competing in the tournament that are not full-time professionals. Putting that into context, their combined squad value is a fraction over $5 million! Compare that to Bayern Munich, whom they meet in their opening fixture and have a value of $1 billion!
Bayern and group rivals Benfica are prolific goalscorers at the highest level of competition, and both could go on a spree against the amateur outfit. The winner of the group could come down to goal difference, so there is no reason for either team to stop, especially with them not meeting each other until the final group game.
It was interesting to see that Auckland faced Al-Ain from the UAE in September in the Intercontinental Cup – and were thrashed 6-2. The gulf between the New Zealanders and the rest of the field is monumental, and therefore, the offer of +200 for their group to feature most goals looks a standout price.
It would be tempting enough regardless, but given the firepower they will face, it is my favorite futures prop.
Group G forecast – 1st Man City, 2nd Juventus @ +110
It’s been a tough and trophyless season for Manchester City, something they have not become accustomed to. Pep has already started his rebuild with the club, making some shrewd additions. After a much more City-like end to the campaign (FA Cup final defeat apart), they would dearly love to show they “are back” by winning this first edition of the Club World Cup.
Of course, to give themselves the best possible chance of doing that, they would want to top their group. The first two fixtures against Morocco’s Wydad and UAE-based Al Ain should present no problems. It comes down to the final group game against Juventus, who equally should have taken maximum points from their opening battles.
Igor Tudor steadied the Juve ship but in a solid rather than spectacular style. They are hard to beat but don’t score too many goals and look set to qualify behind the English side, who we shouldn’t forget are the third favorites to win the whole thing.
I was surprised to see this at plus money and looks like a rock-solid play.
Group A – Winner: Palmeiras @ +180
This is certainly a fade of Porto, who look a shadow of the sides we have seen dominate domestically and compete strongly in Europe. Famously winning the Champions League under the very special guidance of Jose Mourinho in 2004.
For a second consecutive season, the Dragons failed to breathe fire and have finished outside the top two in Portugal, the first time that has happened since 1977. Competing in the Europa League, they lost four of their 10 fixtures before failing to make it to the last 16.
Match Day 1 is huge, and a win for Palmeiras against Porto will obviously see this price on the Brazilians topping the group crash. They are certainly no strangers to the competition, having made the final in its old format three years ago.
Domestically, Abel Ferreira has won seven of their opening 11 league games as they look to regain the title they won in 2022 and 2023 before finishing runners-up last term. They have also posted a perfect six wins from six in the Copa Libertadores.
I am taking this young, vibrant and confident Palmeiras side to top Group A and get the better of opponents who seem to be in the doldrums, having maybe sold off one or two too many of their prized assets without adequate replacements.
Other Club World Cup Preview Stories:
Tournament Betting Preview
Groups Preview
Top Goalscorers Betting Preview
Best Bets for Opening Weekend
