Bayern Munich's new defender, Jonathan Tah, has urged his teammates to prepare for a clash of "South American intensity" when they face Flamengo in the FIFA Club World Cup. The two teams are set to meet in the semi-finals on Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.

Tah, who recently joined Bayern Munich from Bayer Leverkusen, has already played 212 minutes in the Club World Cup. He started in the matches against Auckland City and Boca Juniors and came on as a substitute against Benfica.

The German international anticipates a challenging match against the Brazilian side, noting the passionate atmosphere created by South American fans. He expects the stadium to feel like an away game due to the large number of Flamengo supporters. "I expect an away match like the Boca Juniors, because there will certainly be many South American fans at the stadium. Even then it will be important to get this seriousness on the square," Tah stated.

Tah emphasizes that Bayern must adapt to a different style of football against Flamengo. "It's South American intensity, that's a bit of a different football. We need to adapt this – and on the other side we need to play our game," he explained. He believes that understanding and adjusting to this unique intensity will be crucial for Bayern's success.

Despite a recent 1-0 defeat to Benfica, Tah remains optimistic about Bayern's performance in the tournament. He acknowledged that the first half against Benfica "was simply not good enough". However, he also highlighted the team's dominant 10-0 victory over Auckland City, emphasizing the seriousness and effort displayed in that match. "I think the first match was downplayed a bit and I know we're not going to get the greatest praise for that, but winning 10-0 takes some work and you have to show the seriousness that we had. That's exactly what we need," Tah added.

Bayern Munich signed Tah with the Club World Cup in mind. The defender made his professional debut with Hamburger SV at 17 years old. Before joining Bayern, he played for Bayer Leverkusen for a decade, making 289 appearances in the Bundesliga. During his time there, he won the Bundesliga and DFB Cup in 2024.

Tah's transfer to Bayern Munich was finalized in May 2025, with a contract running until June 30, 2029. Bayern reportedly paid a fee to secure his services for the Club World Cup before his contract with Leverkusen officially expired.

Looking ahead to the match against Flamengo, Bayern coach Vincent Kompany is expected to field a strong lineup. Players like Jamal Musiala, Leon Goretzka, Joshua Kimmich, and Harry Kane are all expected to play. Tah is likely to partner with Dayot Upamecano in central defense.