German side, Borussia Dortmund, will aim to secure the top spot in the FIFA Club World Cup knockout stage when they face South Korean team, Ulsan HD, at the TQL Stadium in Cincinnati on Wednesday, June 25th, at 20:00 GMT.
Borussia Dortmund will have been encouraged by a first goal for new £32m signing Jobe Bellingham, who helped Sunderland AFC get promoted to the English Premier League after an eight-year absence, as can be seen on our all-time Premier League football facts page. Bellingham will now aim to emulate and perhaps surpass his older brother Jude’s impact for Die Schwarzgelben.
Match Preview
Led by captain Kim Young-Gwon, Ulsan are defensively organised but have struggled to replace the goal-scoring output of former striker Joo Min-Kyu, who left for Daejeon. Swedish duo Gustav Ludwigson and Darijan Bojanic provide creativity, with Heo Yool emerging as their leading scorer this season. Ulsan’s challenge will be generating enough attacking against Dortmund’s dynamic attack while maintaining their defensive structure.
Dortmund’s form last season was a rollercoaster. BVB started their campaign poorly in the Bundesliga, but the arrival of Niko Kovac aided an improvement in form, and the German giants are now unbeaten in nine competitive outings.
Kovac’s team has been prolific in front of goal recently, scoring 18 goals in their last six outings. Ulsan, meanwhile, have been resilient, losing just once in their last seven K League 1 games but struggling to convert chances in continental play.
The match at TQL Stadium promises to be a test of Dortmund’s attacking depth against Ulsan’s disciplined defence. With the top two teams in Group F advancing, this fixture could be pivotal for both sides’ knockout stage aspirations.
Borussia Dortmund FIFA Club World Cup form:
- Fluminense: 0-0 (D) 17/06/2025
- Mamelodi Sundowns: 4-3 (W) 21/06/2025
Ulsan HD FIFA Club World Cup form:
- Mamelodi Sundowns: 0-1 (L) 18/06/2025
- Fluminense: 2-4 (L) 21/06/2025
Team News
Borussia Dortmund, under manager Niko Kovač, could see Gio Reyna return to the starting XI after being a substitute in their last match, potentially replacing Felix Nmecha in midfield. Julian Brandt and Jobe Bellingham are likely to play behind Serhou Guirassy, with the in-form Guinean striker leading the line. A back three of Waldemar Anton, Niklas Sule, and Ramy Bensebaini could continue in this clash. Goalkeeper Gregor Kobel is expected to start.
Ulsan Hyundai, managed by Pan-gon, will rely on goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo, a three-time K League 1 champion, to anchor their defence. Kim Young-Gwon and Milosz Trojak are set to form the defensive core. Erick Farias is likely to lead the line alongside Won-sang Um. Darijan Bojanic’s playmaking in midfield will be crucial to unlocking Dortmund’s defence.
Borussia Dortmund possible starting lineup:
Kobel; Sule, Anton, Bensebaini; Svensson, Gross, Reyna, Couto; Bellingham, Brandt; Guirassy
Ulsan HD possible starting lineup:
Jo; Ludwigson, Trojak, Kim, Lee, Kang; Lee, Ko, Bojanic; Farias, Um
We Say: Borussia Dortmund 2-1 Ulsan Hyundai
Dortmund’s attacking firepower, led by their clinical striker and creative wingers, should give them the edge in this encounter. However, Ulsan’s defensive organisation and counter-attacking threat, particularly through Ludwigson from wing-back, could make this a closer contest than expected. We predict a narrow victory for Dortmund, but Ulsan may find the net to keep the game competitive.
