Welcome to the total soccer show and our latest check-in with the 2025 Club World Cup.

Yes, the group stage is now complete and the rounder 16 bracket is set.

In addition to looking at the upcoming games, we're looking at the strong performers so far, particularly those Brazilians.

We're looking at some of the strongest European sides too. The teams were surprised to see make a group stage exit and much more. My name's Ryan Bailey, joining me today. Hello, Mr. Taylor Rockwell. Hello, Mr. Ryan Bailey. I'm excited to be here. I'm excited to talk Club World Cup, a competition that has been ongoing, and I have watched very little of until yesterday where I watched a whole lot of it. Oh wow. Did you spend like a whole, did you 24 hour block it out? How did you do this? Yeah, yeah, the clockwork orange style had the eyes taped open, just took it all in and now I've retained none of it. It's going to be great. Amazing. Happy Club World Club Day for yesterday for you, Taylor. Graham Ruffman, how are you?

I'm very well. Ryan Bailey, how are you? Where in the world are you today? It feels like you've been on a tour of every podcast location in England. I was half expecting you to be on the pyramid stage at Glastonbury for this recording. I've had the BBC I player on all morning pining that I'm not at Glastonbury Graham this weekend, but yes, I'm somewhere hot, I think. That's all I know at this point. I'm a bit confused. Do you know when a band goes on like a hundred date tour and they have to look up where they are every morning? I think I'm a bit like that at this point. Yeah, just some random England location. Are you still saying, good morning London like you know how bands when they don't know where they are they just ams in Scotland

all just some random England location. Yes. Are you still saying, good morning, London,

like, you know how bands, when they don't know where they are, they just, I'm in Scotland all the time where they just say, hello Edinburgh or not Edinburgh at all. So when you get up in the morning, you open the windows and say, good morning, Scotland's second city? Is that what you say? Yes. Right. Yes. Ryan, like in Spinal Tap, I think they tape it to the backs of their guitars.

So they always know where they are.

Do you tape it to the backs of their guitars.

So they always know where they are. Do you tape it to the back of your microphone? Hello. London. Okay, yes, definitely still in London. That's right. I'm definitely still in the UK because there's no AC, Taylor, and it is glorious. Patreon. I think you're in a small, unvantilated room, though.

That should be fun.

It's marvellous, yes, yes.

But I'm excited as you're you, Taylor, to talk Club World Cup with the listener for the next hour or so. Before we get there, Patreon.com slash total soccer shows where you'll find our bonus content. We've got bonus episodes. Bonus video. Access to our Discord server where all the cool kids are hanging out.

That's patreon.com slash total soccer show if you'd like to support us.

A please. Anna, thank you. All right, let's get into Club World Cup mode.

Graham, is it fair to say the story of this Club World Cup? Now, there have been a few stories,

but on the field, is it all about Brazil? All four Brazilian sides are through to the round of 16.

We had Palmyrish topping Group A, albeit with a win over Al-A.

We had Botafogo in Group B, getting through at Adleti's expense, that big statement

win over PSG.

Flamengo, topping Group D with that big win over Chelsea.

They're the current league leaders in Brazil.

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