Round 25 of the Premier World League Season 2026 delivered another action-packed round in Group C, with 48 goals across 16 matches and several important results in the race for the playoffs.
With 25 of 62 rounds completed, there are now 37 rounds remaining. The battle for the top 16 is becoming increasingly intense, while the World Cup of Clubs race at the top continues to take shape.
Qualification Picture
- 🏆 1st–4th: World Cup of Clubs
- 🔵 5th–16th: Playoff positions
- 🟢 17th–22nd: Friendly Cup
- 🟡 23rd–26th: King's Cup
- 🔴 31st–32nd: Relegation
🇯🇵 FC Tokyo Strengthen Their Grip on First
FC Tokyo, the Group C leaders entering the round, came through another difficult test with a 3–2 victory over Zenit Saint Petersburg.
Tokyo entered Round 25 in 1st place, while Zenit were 17th and fighting from the Friendly Cup zone. The Japanese leaders had been unbeaten in their previous five matches, and this victory keeps their momentum going at the top.
The result also represents another missed opportunity for Zenit to push toward the playoff positions.
🏆 Urawa Reds Keep Pace
Urawa Reds, ranked 3rd, earned a valuable 2–1 victory over Vegalta Sendai.
Urawa entered the match with five straight wins, and another three points keeps them firmly in the World Cup of Clubs places. Their form is becoming one of the biggest stories in Group C.
Vegalta, meanwhile, entered the round in 22nd, meaning the defeat leaves them vulnerable in the Friendly Cup battle.
💥 The Strongest Shock Bolivar
One of the biggest surprises of Round 25 came from The Strongest, who defeated Bolivar 3–2.
The result is particularly significant because Bolivar entered the match in 5th place, immediately outside the World Cup of Clubs positions. The Strongest were ranked 25th, meaning this was a major upset.
Bolivar's defeat could prove costly in their pursuit of the top four, while The Strongest gain three enormous points in their attempt to escape the King's Cup places.
🔥 Newcastle Survive Rosario Test
Newcastle United, ranked 2nd, were pushed all the way by Rosario but eventually escaped with a 2–1 victory.
Rosario entered the match in 27th, but Newcastle's victory means the league leaders continue to set the pace at the top of Group C.
Newcastle's five-match form before the game included four wins and a draw, and they continue to look like one of the strongest teams in the competition.
🌎 World Cup of Clubs Race
The top of Group C remains extremely competitive.
FC Tokyo, Newcastle United and Urawa Reds all collected victories, while Bolivar suffered a damaging loss. Babuna, ranked 4th, also won, defeating Hansa Rostock 2–1.
That means the current top-four contenders had a mixed but generally positive round:
- FC Tokyo — 1st: defeated Zenit 3–2
- Newcastle United — 2nd: defeated Rosario 2–1
- Urawa Reds — 3rd: defeated Vegalta 2–1
- Babuna — 4th: defeated Hansa Rostock 2–1
The top four therefore continue to occupy the coveted World Cup of Clubs positions, while Bolivar's defeat opens the door for the chasing playoff teams.
🔵 Playoff Battle: Places 5–16
The playoff race produced several major results.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen, ranked 7th, picked up an important 2–1 victory over Newell's. Leverkusen entered the match with five wins in their last five, and their incredible run continues. They are rapidly establishing themselves as one of the teams nobody wants to face right now.
Juventus, ranked 26th, produced one of the round's biggest upsets by defeating 6th-place Sevilla 3–1. Sevilla entered the match having won their previous five, so Juventus' victory was a major blow to one of the league's hottest playoff contenders.
Hamburger SV, sitting 8th, dominated New York Red Bulls 4–1. Hamburg's win keeps them firmly inside the playoff places and gives them a major boost in the race for the top four.
Atlético Madrid, ranked 11th, were another big winner, crushing relegation-threatened FC Edmonton 4–1. Atlético's three points strengthen their playoff position.
Cerezo Osaka, ranked 10th, were held to a 2–2 draw by LA Galaxy, ranked 14th. It was a valuable point for both sides, although neither was able to make a major move toward the upper reaches of the playoff standings.
Manchester City, ranked 15th, drew 2–2 with América. City remain inside the playoff positions, but with several teams close behind, dropped points could become increasingly expensive.
🇺🇸 Austin FC Pull Off an Important Win
Austin FC, ranked 21st, delivered a strong 3–1 victory over 13th-place Necaxa.
This is an especially valuable result for Austin because they entered the round in the Friendly Cup zone. Three points against a playoff-positioned opponent could give them the confidence needed to make a serious push toward the top 16.
Necaxa, meanwhile, miss an opportunity to strengthen their playoff position.
🟢 Friendly Cup Race
The 17th–22nd positions remain the Friendly Cup zone, and several teams in this group were involved in important matches.
Zenit Saint Petersburg, ranked 17th, lost 3–2 to the league-leading FC Tokyo.
Newell's, ranked 19th, suffered a 2–1 defeat against Leverkusen.
América, ranked 20th, earned a valuable point in their 2–2 draw with Manchester City.
Austin FC, ranked 21st, were perhaps the biggest winner of this group with their 3–1 victory over Necaxa.
Vegalta Sendai, ranked 22nd, lost 2–1 to Urawa Reds.
The Friendly Cup teams are therefore under pressure from the clubs immediately below them.
🟡 King's Cup Battle
The King's Cup positions are 23rd–26th, and there was plenty of action among these teams.
The Strongest, ranked 25th, earned a spectacular 3–2 victory over 5th-place Bolivar. This could be one of the most valuable wins of their season.
Juventus, ranked 26th, shocked 6th-place Sevilla 3–1, giving themselves a massive three points in the battle to climb away from the King's Cup zone.
Ulsan Hyundai, ranked 23rd, also picked up a win, defeating 16th-place Union Española 3–2. That result is particularly important because Ulsan defeated a team sitting on the playoff cutoff.
Limón, ranked 24th, drew 3–3 with York United. Six goals were scored, but neither side could take advantage of the opportunity to collect three points.
🔴 Relegation Battle
The bottom of Group C remains extremely tense.
FC Edmonton, ranked 32nd, suffered another heavy defeat, falling 4–1 to Atlético Madrid. They remain in the bottom relegation position.
Norwich City, ranked 30th, were beaten 2–1 by Borussia Dortmund, leaving them under pressure as they attempt to avoid being dragged toward the relegation places.
Santa Tecla, ranked 29th, produced a crucial 3–2 victory over Crystal Palace, giving their survival campaign a major boost.
⭐ Round 25 Winners
The biggest winners of the round were:
- FC Tokyo — 3–2 over Zenit
- Newcastle United — 2–1 over Rosario
- Urawa Reds — 2–1 over Vegalta
- Hamburger SV — 4–1 over New York Red Bulls
- Atlético Madrid — 4–1 over Edmonton
- Bayer Leverkusen — 2–1 over Newell's
- Austin FC — 3–1 over Necaxa
- The Strongest — 3–2 upset over Bolivar
- Juventus — 3–1 upset over Sevilla
- Ulsan Hyundai — 3–2 over Union Española
- Santa Tecla — 3–2 over Crystal Palace
📊 Round 25 Storyline
After 25 of 62 rounds, the top of Group C remains highly competitive. FC Tokyo continue to lead, with Newcastle United, Urawa Reds and Babuna occupying the four coveted World Cup of Clubs positions entering the round.
The biggest shake-up came just behind them. Bolivar's 3–2 loss to The Strongest gives the teams in positions 6–16 a valuable opportunity to close the gap. Hamburger SV and Bayer Leverkusen both strengthened their playoff credentials, while Sevilla's unexpected 3–1 loss to Juventus could prove costly.
At the other end, Austin FC and The Strongest collected crucial victories as they attempt to escape the Friendly Cup and King's Cup zones, while FC Edmonton continues to face the greatest relegation pressure.
With 37 rounds still remaining, there is plenty of time for the standings to change—but the fight for the top 16 playoff positions is already becoming one of the most competitive battles in Group C.
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