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Fluminense Makes It to the Semis as Latin Giants Fall in Club World Cup
The quarterfinals of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup wrapped up on Saturday, solidifying the final four teams left standing: PSG, Real Madrid, Chelsea, and Fluminense, the sole remaining representative of Latin America.
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A Tournament of Upsets and Eliminations
The road to the semifinals has been brutal. Top-tier teams like Manchester City, Juventus, Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid, Porto and Benfica, and Latin American representatives such as River Plate, Boca Juniors, Botafogo, Monterrey, Flamengo and Pachuca, have all been eliminated before even reaching quarter-finals.
Heavyweights fell early, with some like Manchester City shocking fans after an unexpected exit at the hands of Al Hilal. As the dust settles, only Fluminense has managed to carry the Latin American banner into the semifinals.
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Quarterfinal Results
PSG 2 – 0 Bayern Munich: Goals from Desiré Doué and Ousmane Dembelé were enough to send PSG through, although the French side will miss Lucas Hernández and Willian Pacho due to red cards.
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Real Madrid 3 – 2 Borussia Dortmund: A late save from Courtois preserved the victory for Madrid, who saw goals from Gonzalo García, Fran García, and Kylian Mbappé. Dean Huijsen will miss the semis after being sent off.
Chelsea 2 – 1 Palmeiras: Cole Palmer opened the scoring, Estevao equalized, and Malo Gusto sealed it for Chelsea in a tightly contested match.
Fluminense 2 – 1 Al Hilal: Goals from Martinelli and Hércules ensured the Brazilian club advanced after a tough battle against the Saudi club that had stunned Manchester City in the round of 16.
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Fluminense: Latin America’s Lone Hope
Fluminense came into the tournament as the reigning Copa Libertadores champion and has lived up to the billing. After topping their group with five points and defeating Inter Milan 2-0 in the round of 16, they dispatched Al Hilal with a balanced performance marked by experience and composure.
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Their roster is built on veteran leadership and clinical execution. At 44, goalkeeper Fabio continues to be a cornerstone, making key saves throughout the campaign. Up front, Argentine striker Germán Cano remains lethal in big games, partnering with Colombian winger Jhon Arias, whose pace and creativity stretch defenses thin. Legendary center-back Thiago Silva, now 40 and back at his boyhood club, lends his wisdom and calm presence to a well-drilled defensive unit.
The semifinal clash with Chelsea promises to be a test of style and stamina. Chelsea, featuring Argentine stars Enzo Fernández and Aaron Anselmino, has shown resilience in both the round of 16 and quarterfinals. Their youthful energy and depth will challenge Fluminense’s seasoned core.
Semifinals Schedule
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Fluminense vs Chelsea
Tuesday, July 8
MetLife Stadium, New Jersey
Real Madrid vs PSG
Wednesday, July 9
MetLife Stadium, New Jersey
As we head into the final stretch of the tournament, all eyes are on Fluminense to see if they can continue defying the odds and bring the Club World Cup trophy back to Latin America.
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