Monterrey Goes Toe-to-Toe with Inter Milan in a 1-1 Club World Cup Thriller at the Rose Bowl

Packed house at the Rose Bowl as Monterrey and Inter Milan kick off their Club World Cup campaigns in front of 40,000+ fans.

PASADENA, CA – June 17, 2025

Forty thousand strong packed into the Rose Bowl expecting a show, and CF Monterrey and Inter Milan did not disappoint. In their 2025 FIFA Club World Cup opener, both sides walked away with a point—but not without leaving a mark on Group E.

Sergio Ramos outleaps the Inter defense to head home Monterrey’s opening goal in the 25th minute.

Forget the friendly vibes. This was a fight from minute one.

Monterrey, the pride of Liga MX, came out fearless—and who else but Sergio Ramos to break it open? In the 25th minute, the 39-year-old legend rose like it was 2014 again, thundering in a header off a corner kick. His celebration lit up the pro-Monterrey crowd and reminded everyone why he’s still one of the game’s biggest leaders.

The veteran celebrates in style—Ramos drops to one knee after putting Monterrey ahead at the Rose Bowl.

Inter Milan weren’t about to go quietly. With the sting of a 5–0 loss to PSG in the Champions League final still fresh, Lautaro Martínez answered in the 42nd minute, tapping in a slick pass from Carlos Augusto. Clean movement, clean finish, and just like that—it was 1-1 before halftime.

The Second Half? Tense, Tactical, and tight.

Inter thought they had the winner in the 67th minute—another Lautaro strike—but VAR had other plans. Offside. No goal. No glory. Monterrey’s Esteban Andrada and Inter’s Yann Sommer both came up clutch late, stopping everything that came their way. A late yellow card for Lautaro capped off a frustrating night for Inter, who controlled possession but couldn’t break through again.

Under new manager Cristian Chivu, Inter rotated their squad—only seven from their UCL final lineup started. Monterrey, meanwhile, leaned on their seasoned stars. Alongside Sergio Ramos, Sergio Canales and Germán Berterame kept Inter guessing all night.

With both teams sitting on a point, the Group E battle is wide open. Monterrey face River Plate next—back at the Rose Bowl—while Inter travel to Seattle to face Urawa Red Diamonds on June 21.

This wasn’t just a draw—it was a statement. Monterrey didn’t just survive; they competed. In this new-look Club World Cup, nobody’s safe, and the so-called “underdogs” came ready to bite.

Hands on heads—Inter Milan reacts to a disallowed goal that could’ve changed the game.

NEWS & NOTES

• Sergio Ramos Debut Goal – This was Ramos’ first Club World Cup appearance with Monterrey since signing in February. At 39, he became one of the oldest players to score in the tournament’s history.

• Lautaro Keeps Scoring – Lautaro Martínez has now scored in four straight international tournaments for Inter. Despite the disallowed second goal, his form remains sharp.

• Crowd Energy – The announced attendance was 40,311, with a clear edge in support for Monterrey. Rose Bowl security was increased due to the anticipated fan turnout.

• Chivu’s Rotation – Inter’s manager Cristian Chivu made bold calls, resting key players from the Champions League final. Only seven from that starting XI were in this match.

• Group E Outlook – Monterrey will face River Plate next at the Rose Bowl. Inter’s next challenge comes on June 21 in Seattle against Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds.

• Tournament Format Reminder – The 2025 Club World Cup features an expanded 32-team structure, mirroring the FIFA World Cup group stage, making every point crucial.