FIFA Club World Cup 2025 | Semifinals: Fluminense vs Chelsea | Preview and Predictions

This semifinal encounter of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup will be played between South American giants Fluminense and English heavyweights Chelsea on July 9 at the MetLife Stadium, New York.

Here’s our preview and prediction for the semifinal match between Fluminense and Chelsea at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025.

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FIFA Club World Cup 2025 | Semifinals: Fluminense vs Chelsea | 00:30 IST, July 9

The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup semifinal stage has some exciting match-ups in store, and what better way to kick it off than with a clash between Brazilian heavyweights Fluminense and former champions Chelsea on Wednesday?

Fluminense are undoubtedly the underdogs in this final-four stage compared to their European counterparts. However, Renato Gaúcho’s men have shown both resilience and brilliance at crucial moments to find themselves just one step away from the final of the Club World Championship.

After a professional win in the Round of 16 against European giants Inter Milan, Fluminense edged past giant-killers Al Hilal in the quarterfinals, in what turned out to be an end-to-end encounter at the Camping World Stadium in Orlando.

With both teams boasting solid defensive records in the lead-up to this contest, it was a cagey affair early on, but the match exploded into life toward the end of the first period.

Matheus Martinelli capitalized on a Gabriel Fuentes cut-back and rifled an unstoppable shot into the top corner. Fabio then produced a superb save to deny Kalidou Koulibaly, before the referee pointed to the spot after Marcos Leonardo went down. However, following a VAR review, Danny Makkelie ruled that Samuel Xavier had not committed a foul.

Marcos Leonardo, though, was celebrating shortly after the restart. Koulibaly’s header from a corner struck him, and with Fabio having already dived in the opposite direction, the Brazilian seized his chance and guided it home to level the scores.

Fluminense should have been back ahead moments later when Germán Cano latched onto an underhit Renan Lodi back-pass and went through on goal. He attempted to round Bono, but the Al Hilal goalkeeper produced an outstanding save to slap the ball away with his outstretched arm.

However, there was nothing Bono could do to prevent the winner. Hércules controlled the ball impeccably and struck home one of the most important goals in Fluminense’s 123-year history.

For Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea, finishing second behind Flamengo in the group stage now seems like a blessing in disguise, with the draw handing them the easiest path to the final among the remaining four teams.

After needing extra time to get past Bruno Lage’s SL Benfica in the Round of 16, Chelsea benefitted from a fortuitous late own goal to snatch a 2-1 victory over Palmeiras and reach the Club World Cup semifinals.

The West Londoners took an early lead thanks to Cole Palmer. However, they were pegged back by an impeccable finish from Estevão Willian, the 18-year-old Chelsea-bound winger who will join them after the tournament.

The Brazilians looked the stronger of the two sides with extra time looming in Philadelphia. However, Malo Gusto’s innocuous cross took deflections off Agustín Giay and goalkeeper Weverton and ended up in the back of the net in the 83rd minute.

It was the decisive blow, with Noni Madueke almost adding a third when his late shot was tipped onto the post by Weverton.

Team News:
Fluminense will be without Juan Pablo Freytes and Martinelli, both suspended due to yellow card accumulation. However, Rene is back from his ban and should return to the starting XI ahead of Gabriel Fuentes.

Chelsea, meanwhile, will welcome back Moisés Caicedo from suspension but will be without Levi Colwill and Liam Delap, both suspended after receiving their second yellow cards of the tournament. Reece James and Romeo Lavia, who missed the win over Palmeiras due to injury, remain doubtful for Wednesday’s clash.

Prediction:
Both clubs have done tremendously well to reach the final four. Fluminense entered the tournament as long-shot underdogs, but their performances have earned them the right to fight for a place in the final.

Given Chelsea’s suspension and injury absentees, as well as Fluminense’s sky-high confidence, we’re backing the club from Rio de Janeiro to continue their fairytale run.

Score Prediction: Fluminense 2-1 Chelsea (After Extra Time)

Venue: MetLife Stadium, New York