Physical test awaits Sundowns in USA

Mamelodi Sundowns will play two of their three Club World Cup matches in the heat of the United States summer with their showpiece clash against Borussia Dortmund kicking off at midday.

Sundowns’ three fixtures in Group F will have varying kickoff times but all promise to be energy shaping affairs both extreme heat and humidity.

The South Africa champions, who are one of four African clubs competing at the new-look Club World Cup, will have potentially their easiest encounter first against Ulsan HD from South Korea. It is being in Orlando, Florida with a 6pm kick off time.

But four days later, they will be forced to play in the midday heat in Cincinnati when they go up against last season’s Uefa Champions League runners-up Borussia Dortmund.

Sundowns’ last group game is against Rio de Janeiro giants Fluminense at Miami’s iconic Hard Rock Stadium, where there will be a 3pm local time kick off in what promises to be another physically tough encounter.

The weather in Florida in mid-year is both blisteringly hot and suffocatingly humid.

The top two teams in each of the eight groups at the Club World Cup in advances to the knockout stage.

Fifa held the draw for the Club World Cup on Friday and have since released the full fixture list for the tournament, which runs from June 15-July 13.

SUNDOWNS’ SCHEDULE

June 17: v Ulsan HD (South Korea), Inter&Co Stadium, Orlando, 6pm local time kick off (June 18, 12am in South Africa)

June 21: v Borussia Dortmund (Germany), TQL Stadium, Cincinnati, 12pm local time kick off (6pm in South Africa)

June 25: v Fluminense (Brazil), Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, 3pm local time kick off (9pm in South Africa)