The 2025 Club World Cup delivered a harsh blow to Argentine football. River Plate and Boca Juniors, the country’s two historic powerhouses, bowed out of the tournament in disappointing fashion. Marcelo Gallardo’s squad fell to Inter Milan just when things seemed set for them to advance, while Miguel Ángel Russo’s Boca side delivered one of the tournament’s biggest embarrassments, failing to beat even the semi-pro Auckland City.

Boca’s Long Ordeal

Boca’s tournament turned into a nightmare after the second half of their opener against Benfica. In the first 45 minutes, the Argentine side raised hopes with good football and a halftime lead, but the Eagles’ late equalizer was a turning point. From then on, Xeneize lost their way and never managed to regain the level shown in those promising early minutes.

Next came the clash with Bayern Munich, where they fought with pride but ultimately fell. And if that wasn’t enough, the final draw with Auckland City — a team made up of teachers, bricklayers, and pool cleaners — was the final straw. Boca ended their campaign without a single win, leaving the tournament with their tails between their legs.

River: From Hope to Humiliation

River, on the other hand, had a more encouraging start. With a solid 3-1 win over Urawa Red Diamonds, the Millonarios seemed to have everything under control to reach the Round of 16. The team looked solid, dynamic, and composed when it mattered most. Hopes were high.

However, after a draw with Monterrey, they only needed one more point against Inter to qualify — but red cards to Lucas Martínez Quarta and, in added time, Gonzalo Montiel, crushed any chance of survival. River was eliminated in the group stage, wrapping up a bitter campaign that left Argentine football without a single team in the knockout rounds.

The Only Bright Spot: The Fans

Despite the sporting disaster, there was one thing that still made Argentina proud: the fans. Both Boca and River supporters made their presence felt with banners, chants, and overflowing passion in every stadium they played in. Videos of their songs went viral and were celebrated by football fans across the globe.

Sadly for their cause, this tournament doesn’t reward the best fans — because if it did, River and Boca would be in the fight for the Club World Cup title. But in football, goals matter more than cheers… and in this edition, the goals just weren’t enough. The Argentine teams head home, shame written all over their faces.