The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, hosted in the United States from June 14 to July 13, has sparked a global frenzy, but not just for the football. A wave of memes proclaiming “CONMEBOL > UEFA” has taken over social media, particularly on X, as South American clubs have outperformed expectations against their European counterparts in the tournament’s early stages.
With CONMEBOL teams—Botafogo, Flamengo, Fluminense, Palmeiras, Boca Juniors, and River Plate—remaining undefeated through their first eight matches (five wins, three draws), fans have seized the moment to troll UEFA’s 12-team contingent.
It began after Botafogo’s stunning 1-0 upset over Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), the reigning UEFA Champions League winners, in a group stage match. Other results fueled the fire: Boca Juniors’ 2-2 draw with Benfica, Fluminense’s 0-0 stalemate against Borussia Dortmund, and Palmeiras’ draw with Porto showcased CONMEBOL’s ability to hold their own against UEFA’s elite. River Plate’s 3-1 thrashing of Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds and Flamengo’s 2-0 win over Tunisia’s Espérance added to the narrative.
The best part about the Club World Cup is the South American teams putting a dent in the hubris of European football fans. Football remains a global sport even if all of the money is concentrated in one continent.
— FUT Donkey (@FUTDonkey) June 20, 2025
Statistically, CONMEBOL’s six teams have a 67% success rate (points earned vs. points possible), edging out UEFA’s 64% across their 12 matches (six wins, five draws, one loss).
While UEFA boasts a superior goal difference (+20 vs. CONMEBOL’s +5), the head-to-head record—CONMEBOL’s one win and three draws against UEFA—has given South American fans ample material.
Long overshadowed by Europe’s financial might and global media dominance, CONMEBOL fans see the Club World Cup as a stage to prove their worth and meme UEFA at the same time.
