Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) suffered a surprise 1-0 defeat to Brazilian champions Botafogo in their opening match of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, with Igor Jesus’ first-half strike proving decisive at a packed Pasadena Rose Bowl.
Despite entering the tournament as one of the heavy favourites after dismantling Inter Milan 5-0 in last month’s Champions League final, the French giants were unable to break down a resolute Botafogo defence in front of 53,699 fans.
Jesus capitalised on a rare PSG lapse to slot home the winner, handing the South American champions a huge result that puts them on the brink of the knockout stages.
“A lot of people doubted us, but we showed our strength today,” said Jesus, who had been linked with a Premier League move earlier this year. “This was a meeting of champions, Europe vs South America, and we knew how much it meant. I stayed at Botafogo for moments like this.”
PSG struggled to find rhythm despite dominating possession. Star forwards were largely kept at bay, while Botafogo defended with discipline and created danger on the counter.
“We knew it would be difficult, and Botafogo made it so,” said PSG boss Luis Enrique. “This tournament is very intense. Everyone plays with maximum motivation against us.”
The Spaniard remained optimistic about his team’s chances of advancing.
“If there’s any team that can bounce back, it’s this one,” he said. “We’ll analyse the game, correct what needs fixing, and move forward. The performance wasn’t bad; we just lacked the final touch.”
PSG will now need positive results in their remaining group matches to avoid an early exit, while Botafogo look poised to secure a historic knockout round berth.
