Chelsea will meet Brazilian side Fluminense in the semifinals of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup on Tuesday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, USA, with a place in the final at stake.
The Blues, aiming to win their first Club World Cup title, come into the match after hard-fought wins over Benfica and Palmeiras. Extra time was needed to edge past Benfica, while late goals secured a 2–1 victory over Palmeiras in what was dubbed the “Estêvão Willian Derby.”
Despite an early group-stage defeat to Flamengo, Chelsea have made the most of a favorable knockout path. Enzo Maresca’s side have shown both resilience and ambition throughout the tournament, balancing their on-pitch performances with the club’s significant summer transfer activity.
Fluminense, meanwhile, have been one of the competition’s biggest surprises. The Rio-based club have knocked out top sides including Inter and Al Hilal, the latter fresh from a win over Manchester City. With veteran defender Thiago Silva, formerly of Chelsea,marshaling the backline, Fluminense have combined experience with swift attacking transitions to reach the last four.
This semifinal will be the first ever competitive meeting between Chelsea and Fluminense.
Match Details
- Date: Tuesday, 8 July
- Time: 3 p.m. ET / noon PT / 8 p.m. BST
- Venue: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, USA
- Referee: François Letexier (France)
Team News
Fluminense:
Coach Renato Gaúcho will be without key players Matheus Martinelli and Juan Pablo Freytes, both suspended. Hércules, who has scored off the bench in previous rounds, may start in midfield. Jhon Arias remains the key threat in attack, while Thiago Silva continues to anchor the defense.
Predicted lineup (3-5-2): Fábio; Ignacio, Silva, Fuentes; Xavier, Hércules, Bernal, Nonato, Rene; Arias, Cano
Chelsea:
Maresca will also have to manage suspensions, with Levi Colwill and Liam Delap unavailable. Moisés Caicedo is back from suspension and expected to return to midfield. Reece James, absent in the quarterfinal, could feature, while João Pedro may earn his first start after an encouraging debut cameo.
Predicted lineup (4-2-3-1): Sánchez; Gusto, Adarabioyo, Chalobah, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernández; Palmer, Pedro, Neto; Jackson
Prediction
Fluminense’s path to the semifinals has defied expectations. A side that battled relegation last year is now within reach of a global final, having conceded very little and managed games with tactical precision. Chelsea’s depth and quality may give them the edge, but this match is far from a foregone conclusion.
