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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Cole Palmer scored twice and fed João Pedro for a goal as Chelsea overwhelmed Paris Saint-Germain in the first half and beat the European champions 3-0 on Sunday in the final of the first expanded FIFA Club World Cup.

Palmer had almost identical left-footed goals from just inside the penalty area in the 22nd and 30th minutes, then sent a through pass that enabled João Pedro to chip goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma in the 43d for his third goal in two starts with the Blues.

A 23-year-old who joined Chelsea from Manchester City two years ago, Palmer scored 18 goals this season.

PSG finished a man short after João Neves was given a red card in the 84th minute for pulling down Marc Cucurella by his hair. After a testy final few minutes, the teams needed to be separated as PSG coach Luis Enrique and Donnarumma pushed João Pedro near the center circle.

A heavy favorite who had outscored opponents 16-1, PSG had been looking to complete a quadruple after winning Ligue 1, the Coupe de France and its first Champions League title.

Before a tournament-high crowd of 81,188 at MetLife Stadium that included U.S. President Donald Trump, Chelsea showed the energy of a fourth day of rest after its semifinal, one more than PSG.

Chelsea players celebrate after winning the FIFA Club World Cup on Sunday.

(Adam Hunger / Associated Press)

Chelsea had finished fourth in the Premier League and won the third-tier UEFA Conference League. The Blues took the world title for the second time after 2021, when it was an seven-team event. The Blues earned $128,435,000 to $153,815,000 in prize money, the amount depending on a participation fee FIFA has not disclosed.

PSG had not lost by three goals since a 4-1 Champions League defeat at Newcastle in October 2023.

On the eve of the FIFA Club World Cup final, the governing body’s president hails a ‘golden era’ for the club game.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino triumphantly declared the Club World Cup to be “the most successful club competition in the world” on Saturday before this weekend’s final between Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea.

The first 32-team edition of the tournament faced criticism in the build-up for stretching demands on elite players and has been played out in baking temperatures in the United States that have raised concerns for the health of those involved.

There were also doubts about the level of interest the competition would generate among fans, but Infantino said he was satisfied with the attendance at matches, despite many games being far from sold out, and claimed it had been a major success financially.

“The golden age of club football has started. We can definitely say this FIFA Club World Cup has been a huge success,” Infantino told reporters at Trump Tower on New York City’s Fifth Avenue, where FIFA has just opened an office.

“We heard that financially it would not work, that nobody is interested, but I can say we generated almost $2.1bn in revenues, for 63 matches,” he said.

“That makes an average of $33m per match – no other club competition in the world comes close.

“It is already the most successful club competition in the world.”

Former Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp has been one of the leading voices against the tournament, calling it “the worst idea ever implemented in football” in a recent interview.

But the head of world football’s governing body dismissed suggestions that Klopp might be speaking for most observers in Europe.

“We shouldn’t say that the opinion of Europe on this is very bad because it is not true,” said Infantino, who was appearing on a stage alongside numerous footballing greats, including the Brazilian Ronaldo.

“All the teams who have come here have been happy – some teams who didn’t come here because they didn’t qualify were calling us to see how they could qualify.

“Of course, I would have liked to have Liverpool here, Arsenal, Manchester United, Barcelona, Tottenham, AC Milan, Napoli … but you have to qualify and there are different criteria.”

The next Club World Cup is due to take place in 2029, with Infantino refusing to commit when asked whether the tournament could be played every two years or be expanded to feature more teams.

“We created something new, something which is here to stay, something which is changing the landscape of club football,” he added.

Who: Paris Saint-Germain vs Chelsea
What: 2025 FIFA Club World Cup final
Where: Metlife Stadium, New Jersey, United States
When: Sunday, July 12, at 3pm ET (19:00 GMT)

How to follow: We’ll have all the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from noon ET (16:00 GMT) in advance of our live text commentary stream.

Fresh from their first European crown, Paris Saint-Germain go in search of the most lucrative prize in club football as they face Chelsea in the final of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup (CWC).

FIFA, football’s global governing body, has pulled out all the stops to present this tournament as the most prestigious trophy in the club game.

Al Jazeera Sport takes a look at a match that could top a stellar season for the Parisians or could kick-start the reboot of one of the teams that had previously sought global domination, Chelsea.

How did PSG reach the CWC final?

Following their 5-0 demolition of Inter Milan in the UEFA Champions League final, the Parisians pulled off another great achievement by beating the record Club World Cup and European Cup winners Real Madrid 4-0 in the semifinals of this year’s edition.

Fabian Ruiz scored on either side of an Ousmane Dembele strike to set PSG on their way in the first half, before Goncalo Ramos rounded matters off with three minutes remaining of normal time.

PSG had already overcome Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami and Bayern Munich in the knockout stages, while topping their group following wins against Atletico Madrid and Seattle Sounders, and a defeat by Botafogo.

How did Chelsea reach the CWC final?

The Blues overcame Brazilian opposition in the last two rounds, beating Fluminense 2-0 in the semifinal and Palmeiras 2-1 in the quarters.

The round of 16 provided a much stiffer test with Benfica, after a two-hour lightning delay, coming back onto the field with four minutes remaining of normal time and levelling the match through Angel di Maria’s penalty.

Reece James had given the Blues the lead in the 64th minute from a freekick, but Christopher Nkunku, Pedro Neto and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall added to Chelsea’s tally in extra time to seal a 4-1 win.

Wins against Los Angeles and ES Tunis straddled a defeat by Flamengo in the group stage.

What happened the last time PSG met Chelsea?

The Parisians claimed a 2-1 win in London in March 2016. Adrien Rabiot and Zlatan Ibrahimovic netted before and after Diego Costa’s strike for the Blues.

It capped a 4-2 aggregate win in the knockout stages of that season’s UEFA Champions League.

What the managers said

Enzo Maresca, Chelsea head coach: “It is a great achievement. It has been a fantastic season – top four in the Premier League, Conference League and now in the final of this competition. We are so, so happy. We go game by game. Finally, we have the last game of the season and hopefully, we can win the tournament.”

Luis Enrique, head coach of Paris Saint-Germain, spoke about his side’s quest to add to the European crown and domestic double they sealed last season. “We are in a special season, a special moment, and we have one more step against a very good team like Chelsea,” Enrique said. “Now it’s time to prepare. We want to make history for our club.”

Head-to-head

This is the ninth meeting between the sides with PSG claiming victory on three occasions, while Chelsea have won twice and there have been three draws.

The first encounter came in the Champions League group stage in September 2004. The Blues won 3-0 in Paris, with the return fixture resulting in a 0-0 draw.

The Londoners have not won in the last four meetings, with PSG winning twice in that time.

PSG team news

Willian Pacho and Lucas Hernandez are both once again suspended, having both been shown straight reds in the quarterfinal win against Bayern.

Ousmane Dembele returned from a knock to face Real in the semis and managed the first hour of the game. The French forward is expected to be fit to start once again in the final.

Chelsea team news

The Blues may have a number of selection dilemmas heading into the final.

Central defender Levi Colwill and striker Liam Delap are both available, having both served one-game bans for picking up their second yellow cards of the tournament in the quarterfinals.

Reece James was only fit enough to make the bench in the semifinals but is pushing to be fit for a starting return. Moises Caicedo sustained an ankle injury late in the last-four win against Fluminense and is a doubt for the match with PSG.

Predicted PSG starting lineup

Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Beraldo, Nuno Mendes; Vitinha, Joao Neves, Fabian Ruiz; Doue, Dembele, Kvaratskhelia.

Predicted Chelsea starting lineup

Sanchez; James, Chalobah, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez, Nkunku; Palmer, Neto; Joao Pedro.

EXPLAINER

English side Chelsea will meet European champions Paris Saint-Germain in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup final on Sunday.

FIFA’s 2025 Club World Cup reaches its final in the United States on Sunday with a blockbuster ending lined up for the most lucrative tournament in football history.

The expanded 32-team edition has seen the best-ranked teams from their continents across the last four years whittled down to the last two.

Al Jazeera takes a closer look at the finale to the sport’s global governing body’s attempt to put the club game on the international stage.

Who’s in the FIFA Club World Cup final?

France’s Paris-Saint Germain, the newly crowned European champions, are the headline name in the final.

The Qatar-backed Parisians trounced Inter Milan in the UEFA Champions League final – the tournament FIFA are hoping to supersede – in May to lift that trophy for the first time.

They face English Premier League club Chelsea who had fallen somewhat from the heights they reached during the Roman Abramovich era, when the Russian billionaire heavily funded the Londoners’ assault on the domestic and European titles.

The Blues did bounce back to win the UEFA Champions League in 2021, upsetting Manchester City in the final, but their last domestic league title was secured in 2017.

How much has PSG made at the Club World Cup?

PSG has earned $88.4m to $113.8m for reaching the final, the amount depending on a participation fee.

The prize fund differs for each team depending on how many matches they won across the tournament.

The Parisians beat Real Madrid 4-0 in their semifinal on Wednesday to mark their fifth win of the tournament.

How much has Chelsea made at the Club World Cup?

Chelsea are believed to have earned a figure very close to that of PSG. The Blues, like their Parisians, won two and lost one in their group stage fixtures.

Both clubs are believed to have been rewarded with similar participation fees prior to the tournament – and PSG’s Champions League success in May.

Chelsea beat Fluminense 2-0 in their last-four clash on Tuesday.

How much will the winner of the Club World Cup receive?

The winner of Sunday’s final will receive $40m.

Along with the prize money claimed across the matches, and the participation fees, both Chelsea and PSG have the chance to earn well in excess of $125m in total.

What titles have PSG already won this season?

PSG not only secured the UEFA Champions League final for the first time, but the Parisians also claimed both the French league and cup titles.

Their first treble – rare across the continent – could now be turned into a quadruple.

With the UEFA Super Cup to come next month, PSG could equal Manchester City’s unique five-trophy achievement in 2023.

Has Chelsea ever won the Club World Cup?

Chelsea were crowned champions of FIFA’s showpiece club event in 2021 as they beat Brazil’s Palmeiras 2-1 in the final.

The Blues were defeated finalists in 2012, when they lost to another Brazilian side, Corinthians.

Chelsea are striving to become the first English side to win the CWC for a second time.

Why are Chelsea at the Club World Cup?

Chelsea lifted the UEFA Conference League this season by beating Real Betis in the final, while finishing fourth in the English top flight.

It was their 2021 win in the Champions League final that aided their ranking in Europe, however, which qualified the London-based club for this edition of the Club World Cup.

Where will the Club World Cup final be held?

The final will be staged at Metlife Stadium in New Jersey, the same venue that will host the finale of the 2026 FIFA World Cup next year.

The multipurpose venue, which is currently home to the NFL’s New York Giants and New York Jets, holds a capacity of 82,500.

How to follow and watch the Club World Cup final?

We’ll bring you our usual comprehensive text and photo commentary stream, with four hours of live build-up, on Al Jazeera Sport on Sunday.

You can also subscribe to DAZN, the official broadcaster of the tournament, to watch the final.

A Fabian Ruiz double helps Paris Saint-Germain thump Real Madrid to set up FIFA Club World Cup final against Chelsea.

Fabian Ruiz scored twice, Ousmane Dembele tallied a goal and an assist, and Paris Saint-Germain eliminated Real Madrid as well as Kylian Mbappe from the FIFA Club World Cup by sailing to a 4-0 semifinal win.

PSG built a 3-0 lead in 24 minutes, deflating the heavily pro-Madrid crowd on Wednesday. Goncalo Ramos, who subbed on for Dembele early in the second half, added a goal for good measure in the 87th minute.

Gianluigi Donnarumma parried one early shot by Mbappe and finished with two saves, but the PSG defence was otherwise unbothered en route to their fifth clean sheet in six tournament matches.

Wednesday marked Mbappe’s first time facing PSG, for whom he scored 256 goals over seven years before joining Madrid a year ago. After coming on as a substitute in the past two matches, Mbappe started up front alongside Gonzalo Garcia, but was held off the scoresheet.

Trent Alexander-Arnold was out of Real Madrid’s squad, reportedly due to a training injury.

Coming off its first European title, PSG will play for the championship on Sunday.

Real fared no better than Inter Milan, overrun by PSG 5-0 in the Champions League final. The 15-time European champions looked sluggish after travelling to Florida for training between games, and PSG had 76.5 percent possession in the first half.

A crowd of 77,542 was at MetLife Stadium on a scorching day, with a temperature of 33 degrees Celsius (91 degrees Fahrenheit) at kickoff and humidity that made it feel like 38C (101F).

PSG’s attack wasted no time, however, forcing Courtois to make two difficult saves during the first five minutes. But in the sixth, Dembele robbed Raul Asencio of the ball in the centre of the box, tapped it away from Courtois’s diving reach and set up Ruiz for a one-timer into the back of the net.

Dembele made Madrid pay again when he closed in on Antonio Rudiger, who proceeded to whiff on a pass attempt in the defensive half. Dembele bolted away and beat Courtois in the bottom left corner for a 2-0 lead less than nine minutes in.

After Mbappe’s third shot of the day was blocked, PSG ran out on a clinical counterattack. Achraf Hakimi sprung free down the right side on a give-and-go with Dembele, and Hakimi’s cross set up Ruiz’s second goal in the 24th minute.

Paris Saint-Germain will face Chelsea on Sunday in the final. Chelsea won the title in 2021, while PSG will try to become the first team from France to capture the trophy.

PSG has earned $88.4m to $113.8m for reaching the final, the amount depending on a participation fee.

Next year’s Fifa World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico is set to be “the most climate-damaging” in the tournament’s history, according to new research by environmentalists.

Scientists for Global Responsibility (SGR) has calculated the greenhouse gas emissions attributable to the tournament, which has been expanded from 32 to 48 teams.

“Driven by a high reliance on air travel and significant increase in the quantity of matches” the campaign group claims the expanded 2026 World Cup will generate more than nine million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.

SGR says that is almost double the average for the last four World Cup finals, and significantly more than Qatar 2022, which is estimated to have had a footprint of up to 5.25 million tonnes of CO2e.

It says the predicted 2026 total is “equivalent to nearly 6.5 million average British cars being driven for an entire year” – and will make it the most polluting tournament ever staged.

Next year’s World Cup will be the first to be held across an entire continent and have 40 more matches (104) than before, although all will be played at existing stadia.

In their original bid book, the three prospective host nations for the 2026 tournament revealed a preliminary estimate of 3.6 million tonnes of CO2e, although at that stage it was expected to stage just 80 matches. They also said the bid “hopes the 2026 World Cup will establish new standards for environmental sustainability in sport and deliver measurable environmental benefits”.

Fifa has been approached for comment.

Who: Real Madrid vs Paris Saint-Germain (PSG)
What: Semifinal 2, FIFA Club World Cup 2025
Where: MetLife Stadium, New Jersey, United States
When: Wednesday, July 9 at 3pm local time (19:00 GMT)

How to follow: We’ll have all the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from noon (16:00 GMT) in advance of our live text commentary stream.

The last two winners of the UEFA Champions League clash for the remaining spot in the final of the FIFA Club World Cup (CWC) when Real Madrid play Paris Saint-Germain in an epic face-off at the 82,500-seat MetLife Stadium, just outside New York.

Real are hoping to add a record sixth CWC crown to their collection while PSG need to win this trophy to complete a rare quintuple of major titles in a single season.

The contest has some extra spice thrown in with superstar Kylian Mbappe, an ex-PSG player, lining up against his old club for the first time since signing with Real Madrid last year.

Here is all to know before the second CWC semifinal:

How did Real Madrid reach the semifinals?

Los Blancos finished atop Group H with two wins and one draw.

Real opened their CWC campaign with a 1-1 draw against Al Hilal in Miami, before thumping Mexican side Pachuca 3-1 in a rematch of their FIFA Intercontinental final last December. The Spaniards ensured a smooth passage into the knockout rounds with a 3-0 demolition of RB Salzburg in the final group fixture on June 27.

In the round of 16, Real played out a tough 1-0 win against timeless rivals Juventus at Hard Rock Stadium. They then prevailed in a five-goal thriller to eliminate Borussia Dortmund 3-2 in a 2024 Champions League final rematch, capped off by Mbappe’s spectacular match-winning bicycle strike in the 94th minute.

How did PSG reach the semifinals?

PSG finished atop Group B with two wins and one loss.

They opened their Club World Cup with a dominant 4-0 victory against Atletico Madrid at the famous Rose Bowl in Los Angeles.

In their second group fixture, the European champions suffered a shock 1-0 defeat to Botafogo after a first-half goal from Igor Jesus proved to be the match-winner for the Brazilian side.

PSG bounced back in their final group match to defeat hosts Seattle 2-0 at Lumen Field to comfortably qualify for the knockout stage.

In the last 16, the French side demolished Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami 4-0 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

In the quarterfinal, they hit top gear, crushing the challenge of German champions Bayern Munich to win 2-0 and cruise into the last four of the tournament.

Mbappe vs Dembele: The battle of the high-scoring forwards

Real Madrid have netted 11 goals in the Club World Cup so far, while PSG have 12; both teams have been boosted by the return of their injured star strikers, with Ousmane Dembele and Mbappe scoring in the quarterfinals.

The two forwards, who were teammates at PSG until Mbappe’s move to Real Madrid in June 2024 and play together for the France national team, enjoyed incredible offensive statistics in the 2024-25 season.

Mbappe’s superb goal against Dortmund on Saturday was his 44th for Real Madrid in 58 appearances this season.

Dembele, meanwhile, blossomed after Mbappe’s departure from the Paris club, switching from the wing to the attacking talisman role in coach Luis Enrique’s system, scoring 34 goals in 51 appearances across all competitions in 2024-25, and carrying PSG to domestic and European titles.

“I’m feeling really good. It’s the best season of my career,” Dembele told PSG’s official website. “I signed for PSG to have moments like this. It’s been an exceptional year, for me personally and for the team as a whole. It’s magnificent. But we want more. Once you’ve tasted it [championships], you want more.”

Head-to-head

The last time these two sides met was in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 in 2022 when Mbappe still played for PSG.

Real Madrid won the knockout match 3-2 on aggregate before going on to lift their 14th European title – but PSG were a very different team then, and that was before Enrique took charge of the French side.

How many Club World Cup titles have Real Madrid won?

Real Madrid have won the FIFA Club World Cup a record five times. Their last victory was in 2023 when they beat Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal 5-3.

They also won the trophy in 2015 and 2017, 2018 and 2019.

They also hold the most tournament wins (12) and the most total goals scored in the competition (40).

What titles have PSG already won this season?

PSG achieved their best season in club history in the 2024-25 campaign, winning a perfect four-out-of-four titles: Ligue 1, Coupe de France, Trophee des Champions and the UEFA Champions League trophy.

In doing so, PSG became the first French side to win a continental treble and also a continental quadruple.

If they win the FIFA Club World Cup, they can add a fifth trophy to their spectacular season, completing a rare quintuple of titles in one season.

Manchester City, in 2023, were the last club side to win five titles in a single season: Premier League, FA Cup, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup.

Team news: Real Madrid

Gonzalo Garcia, who has led the Real Madrid attack in Mbappe’s absence and scored four goals in five appearances, will likely hand back the starting job to the French superstar against PSG. Earlier in the tournament, Mbappe was hospitalised with gastroenteritis but is now believed to be ready to lead the line from the opening whistle.

“He is still not perfect, not 100 percent, but he is getting better every day,” Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso said of Mbappe after their quarterfinal victory over Dortmund.

Centre back Dean Huijsen, who picked up a late red card against Borussia Dortmund in the quarterfinal, will not play due to suspension.

Real continue to be without the injured trio of David Alaba, Eduardo Camavinga and Endrick.

Team news: PSG

Enrique will be without suspended defenders William Pacho and Lucas Hernandez after both were sent off in PSG’s 2-0 quarterfinal win over Bayern Munich. Lucas Beraldo is expected to be named Pacho’s replacement in the starting XI.

Up front, Dembele is a strong probability to make his first start of the tournament after coming on as a substitute against Munich, with Bradley Barcola moving to the bench.

PSG remain relatively injury-free with only Nordi Mukiele unavailable.

Possible lineups:

Real Madrid: Courtois; Alexander-Arnold, Asencio, Rudiger, F Garcia; Valverde, Tchouameni, Guler, Bellingham; Mbappe, Vinicius Jr

PSG: Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Beraldo, Mendes; Neves, Vitinha, Fabian Ruiz; Kvaratskhelia, Dembele, Doue

What the coaches and players had to say

Xabi Alonso, Real coach: “The tactical battle with Luis Enrique will be a big test for us. We will prepare for the upcoming game [PSG] in a positive spirit after today’s [quarterfinal] victory.”

Luis Enrique, PSG coach: “It doesn’t matter who we play in the semifinals. All that matters is that we are there and that we want to get to the final.”

Antonio Rudiger, Real defender: “PSG are a very, very tough team to play against,” Real defender Antonio Rudiger told FIFA. “They’ve shown they’re one of the best teams in Europe, so it’ll be a hard match. But we’re Real Madrid and we’re ready for the challenge.”

Who: Chelsea vs Fluminense

What: Semifinal, FIFA Club World Cup 2025

Where: MetLife Stadium, New Jersey, United States

When: Tuesday, July 8 at 3pm local time (19:00 GMT)

How to follow: We’ll have all the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from noon (16:00 GMT) in advance of our live text commentary stream.

Chelsea will be hoping to seal their spot in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup (CWC) final with victory against Brazil’s Fluminense in the opening semifinal on Tuesday.

The Blues are striving to become the first side to win the CWC for a second time but face a formidable task against the Rio de Janeiro giants, who are unbeaten in the tournament.

Here is all to know before their semifinal showdown at MetLife Stadium, just outside New York:

How did Chelsea reach the semifinals?

Chelsea finished second in Group D to another Brazilian super club, Flamengo.

The London-based club opened their campaign with a 2-1 win over Los Angeles FC, before stumbling to a tough 3-1 loss against Flamengo. They qualified for the knockout stage with a 3-0 defeat of Esperance de Tunisie.

Enzo Maresca’s side faced the Group C winners Benfica in the last 16, beating the Portuguese side 4-1 after extra time.

The Blues then played a second Brazilian club in the quarterfinals, beating Palmeiras 2-1 to qualify for the final four.

How did Fluminense reach the semifinals?

Fluminense, who qualified for the CWC as winners of the 2023 Copa Libertadores, were unbeaten in Group F, finishing second behind Borussia Dortmund with one win and two draws.

They played out a 0-0 scoreline with Dortmund in their tournament opener, then defeated South Korean side Ulsan HD 4-2. In their final group fixture, they played out 0-0 against Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa.

In the knockout phase, Fluminense upset Inter Milan 2-0 in Charlotte, then ended the fairytale run of Saudi club Al Hilal in the quarterfinal, winning 2-1 and booking their place in Tuesday’s semifinal.

Did Fluminense captain Thiago Silva play for Chelsea?

The inspirational 40-year-old, regarded by many as one of the greatest defenders of all time, is the former skipper of Chelsea, having played more than 150 matches for the English club from 2020 until 2024.

Silva was a fan favourite at Stamford Bridge and won three trophies during his time with Chelsea, including the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup.

Silva is expected to be in the starting XI against his old club.

Head-to-head

This will be the first competitive meeting between Fluminense and Chelsea.

When did Chelsea win the FIFA Club World Cup?

Chelsea won the 18th edition of the CWC in 2021, hosted in the United Arab Emirates.

The Blues won the final 2-1 against Palmeiras at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

The tournament was originally planned to take place in late 2021 in Japan, but was moved to February 2022 in the UAE due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Is this the first CWC appearance for Fluminense?

Fluminense made their Club World Cup debut at the 2023 tournament in Saudi Arabia, making it all the way to the final in Jeddah where they lost to Manchester City 4-0.

Team news: Chelsea

Chelsea will be without Levi Colwill and Liam Delap after both received their second yellow cards of the tournament against Palmeiras in the quarterfinal.

Moises Caicedo will rejoin the Blues squad after serving his suspension.

On the injury front, Romeo Lavia and Reece James were both held back against Palmeiras and are questionable heading into Tuesday’s match. Omari Kellyman is unavailable for selection.

Team news: Fluminense

Fluminense will be without Juan Pablo Freytes and Mathues Martinelli – who scored the game-winner against Al Hilal in the quarterfinal – after both received their second yellow cards of the tournament in their last-eight final against the Saudi club.

Key defender Rene returns to the club from suspension and is expected to reclaim his place in the starting XI at the expense of Gabriel Fuentes, whom coach Renato Gaucho might redeploy in an attacking midfield role against Chelsea.

Talisman Jhon Arias should again lead Fluminense’s forward line.

Central midfielder Otavio was a pretournament scratching after suffering a season-ending Achilles tendon tear in May.

Possible lineups:

Chelsea: Sanchez; Gusto, Tosin, Chalobah, Cucurella; Fernandez, Caicedo; Neto, Palmer, Nkunku; Pedro

Fluminense: Fabio; Ignacio, Silva, Rene; Xavier, Hercules, Bernal, Nonato, Fuentes; Arias, Cano

What the coaches had to say

Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca said: “I watched some games that they [Fluminense] have played. And you can see that they are very well-organised. They have some very good players. The manager [Gaucho] is doing a fantastic job.”

“And again, it will be the same [in the semi] final. The energy from the Brazilian team in this competition has been high … Probably … because you are starting now the season, while we are finishing the season. So, the energy is normal. It is different. And we try to deal with that in a different way.”

Renato Gaucho, who has helped Fluminense defy the odds to knock out Champions League runners-up Inter Milan in the last 16 and Al Hilal in the quarterfinals, spoke after his side qualified for the semifinal against Chelsea.

“It is another step forward, thanks to everyone’s efforts. Participating in the Club World Cup is a unique opportunity … We do not know when we will have the chance to participate again. I dedicate this qualification [victory over Al Hilal] to our fans, and I imagine the wonderful atmosphere in Rio de Janeiro, just as it was wonderful here in the stadium, it was a deserved victory.”

An epic all-European clash and an upstart Brazilian side takes on London’s finest in the final four.

Three European teams and one from South America have their sights set on the FIFA Club World Cup (CWC) 2025 trophy as the tournament enters the semifinal stage on Tuesday.

The final two clubs qualified for the final four on Saturday. UEFA Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) spectacularly defeated Bayern Munich 2-0 in the quarterfinals despite being reduced to nine men. Five-time CWC winners Real Madrid played out a five-goal thriller to beat Borussia Dortmund 3-2 to seal their semifinal spot.

Here’s how the Club World Cup semifinals line up:

⚽ First semifinal : Fluminense vs Chelsea

When: Tuesday at 3pm (19:00 GMT)
Where: MetLife Stadium, New Jersey

The opening semifinal pitches Brazil’s Fluminense against English Premier League side Chelsea.

Fluminense continue to impress at the CWC with goals from Matheus Martinelli and Hercules securing their place in the last four with a 2-1 win against Al Hilal in Orlando, Florida.

Chelsea scored the go-ahead goal on Malo Gusto’s 83rd-minute shot, which went in after a pair of deflections, beating Palmeiras 2-1 on Friday night to secure their spot in the semifinals.

Cole Palmer put Chelsea ahead in the 16th minute, but Estevao, an 18-year-old who will transfer to Chelsea after the CWC, tied the score against his future club in the 53rd. Gusto’s match-winning shot after a short corner kick that appeared to deflect off defender Agustin Giay and goalkeeper Weverton sent the Chelsea fans among the 65,782 spectators into a frenzy.

The match will take place at the 88,000-seat MetLife Stadium just outside New York City.

⚽ Second semifinal: PSG vs Real Madrid

When: Wednesday at 3pm (19:00 GMT)
Where: MetLife Stadium, New Jersey

The second semifinal features a mouthwatering European heavyweight matchup between PSG and Real Madrid.

Nine-man Paris Saint-Germain advanced after defeating Bayern Munich 2-0 with goals from Desire Doue and Ousmane Dembele keeping the French side on track to achieve a historic quadruple of major titles in one season.

Luis Enrique’s side needed to dig deep in front of 67,000 fans at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, after late red cards for Willian Pacho and Lucas Hernandez.

Meanwhile, Gonzalo Garcia scored his fourth goal of the Club World Cup and Kylian Mbappe his first as Real Madrid beat Borussia Dortmund 3-2 in the final quarterfinal on Saturday.

Garcia put Madrid ahead from close range early on during a hot afternoon at the MetLife Stadium, and Fran Garcia then doubled their lead before the midway point.

Dortmund never seriously threatened a comeback before a remarkable late flurry of activity with Maximilian Beier pulling one back in the 93rd minute and superstar forward Mbappe registering Madrid’s third goal with a stunning overhead kick.

Mbappe, who has battled illness for most of the CWC, will face his previous club PSG for the first time since he departed the Paris-based side for Real Madrid in June 2024.

The final will be played on Sunday at the MetLife Stadium, which will also the venue for the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.

The winning team in the Club World Cup could pocket as much as $125m in prize money.

The #FIFACWC final four…

BUY TICKETS | https://t.co/QE1Z92ZlhG pic.twitter.com/Qnyji7YLE0

— FIFA Club World Cup (@FIFACWC) July 5, 2025

Record FIFA Club World Cup winners Real Madrid meet fellow Europeans, Borussia Dortmund, in the quarterfinals.

Who: Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund
What: FIFA Club World Cup 2025
Where: MetLife Stadium, New Jersey, United States
When: Saturday, July 5 at 4pm local time (20:00 GMT)

How to follow: We’ll have all the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from 6pm local (22:00 GMT) in advance of our live text commentary stream.

Record FIFA Club World Cup winners Real Madrid face the side they beat to claim the 2024 European crown, Borussia Dortmund, for a place in the semifinals.

Real lifted the Champions League trophy two seasons ago with a 2-0 win at Wembley Stadium in London, United Kingdom, now Dortmund have the chance to exact revenge by ending Real’s hunt for a sixth FIFA title.

Al Jazeera Sport takes a closer look at the tie.

How did Real Madrid reach the quarterfinals?

Real opened their tournament with a 1-1 draw against Al Hilal but went on to beat Pachuca 3-1 and Real Salzburg 3-0, in doing so claiming top spot in Group H.

That set up a blockbuster round-of-16 tie with fellow European giants Juventus. Gonzalo Garcia’s 54th-minute header was enough to seal a 1-0 win for the Spaniards against the Italians.

How did Borussia Dortmund reach the quarterfinals?

Dortmund also opened with a draw – a 0-0 stalemate against Fluminense – but secured wins against South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns and South Korea’s Ulsan Hyundai.

Their top spot in Group F lead to a round-of-16 meeting with Mexico’s Monterrey. Serhou Guirassy netted in the 14th and 24th minutes, with German Berterame tightening matters in a 2-1 win for the German club.

What happened in Real Madrid’s last meeting with Borussia Dortmund?

The sides have already had one rerun of the 2024 Champions League final when they met in the League Phase of last season’s competition.

Dortmund, however, missed out on the chance to get one back on Real, who ran out 5-2 winners in the match in Spain.

Real Madrid team news

Kylian Mbappe continues his return from an illness which kept him out of the group stage of the tournament. The French forward did, however, make his first appearance at this year’s CWC when he came off the bench in the 68th minute of the win against Juventus.

Borussia Dortmund team news

Dortmund midfielder Jobe Bellingham serves a one-match ban following a second booking of the competition in the win against Monterrey. It means there will be no head-to-head with his brother, Jude.

Head-to-head

This is the 17th meeting between the sides, with Real winning on eight occasions and Dortmund claiming the spoils in three of the encounters.

The Spaniards haven’t lost in the last six meetings, claiming four wins in that time. The run included the Champions League final two seasons ago when Dani Carvajal and Vinicius Junior’s goals secured the trophy for Los Blancos.

How many Club World Cups have Real Madrid won?

Real Madrid have lifted the trophy, in its various guises, on a record five occasions, with their 2023 victory against Al Hilal being the last.

That does not include lifting the inaugural FIFA Intercontinental Cup in December after their victory against Pachuca, despite that competition taking on the former format of the Club World Cup.

Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso’s pre-match thoughts

“I’m really delighted with the result [against Juventus], going through, and with the performance as well. We had to work, it was going to be tough, but we were professional and did really well.”

Borussia Dortmund coach Niko Kovac’s pre-match thoughts

“We know [Xabi Alonso] very well. He worked two and a half years in Germany, and he did a fantastic job. Now he’s implementing everything he had at Bayer Leverkusen at Real Madrid. So we’re expecting the same what we had in Leverkusen, only with different players. We’re looking forward to it, but you have to play football for 90 minutes, and if we put everything on to the pitch, I think that we will have a good chance.”

Possible Real Madrid starting lineup

Courtois, Alexander-Arnold, Rudiger, Tchouameni, Huijsen, Garcia, Valverde, Bellingham, Guler, Mbappe, Junior

Possible Borussia Dortmund starting lineup

Kobel, Ryerson, Sule, Anton, Bensebaini, Svensson, Nmecha, Gross, Sabitzer, Guirassy, Adeyemi

Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain face German giants Bayern Munich in FIFA’s Club World Cup quarterfinals.

Who: PSG vs Bayern Munich
What: FIFA Club World Cup quarterfinals
Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, United States
When: Saturday, July 4 at 12pm (16:00 GMT)

How to follow: We’ll have all the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from 9am local (13:00 GMT) in advance of our live text commentary stream.

Fresh from lifting the UEFA Champions League for the first time, Paris Saint-Germain will continue their plight for a first FIFA Club World Cup when they face German giants Bayern Munich.

The Parisian lifted both the French league and cup along with their European success this season, while Bayern won their 34th Bundesliga title.

Al Jazeera Sport takes a closer look at the all-European clash for a place in the final four.

How did PSG reach the quarterfinals?

PSG lost their final group stage match 1–0 to Brazil’s Botafogo, but progressed with earlier wins against Atletico Madrid and Seattle Sounders.

A meeting with former star Lionel Messi awaited in the round of 16, where the Parisians beat Inter Miami 4-0 with Joao Neves netting twice.

How did Bayern Munich reach the quarterfinals?

The Germans opened with a 10-0 thrashing of New Zealand side Auckland City, before confirming their progress with a 2-1 win against Argentina’s Boca Juniors.

Benfica shocked Bayern with a 1-0 win in the final group-stage match, which left the Munich-based club to face Flamengo in the round of 16.

Bayern raced into an early two-goal lead before running out 4-2 winners with a Harry Kane double.

Have Bayern Munich won the Club World Cup?

Yes. Bayern had lifted FIFA’s club competition on two occasions – beating Morocco’s Raja Casablanca in 2013 and UANL of Mexico in 2020.

Who will PSG or Bayern face in the semifinal?

The winner of this match will play the winner of quarterfinal four – between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund – in the last four.

The final quarterfinal match follows the conclusion of the PSG and Bayern tie, and will be played at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

Head-to-head

This is the 15th meeting between the sides, with Bayern winning eight and PSG six of the matchups so far.

Their first meeting came in 1994, with PSG winning both matches in the Champions League group stages.

The teams were also pitted together in the 2020 UEFA Champions League final in Lisbon, with Bayern winning 1-0 thanks to a header from former PSG player Kingsley Coman.

PSG team news

PSG could hand Ousmane Dembele his first start of the tournament, following his substitute appearance in the 4-0 win against Inter Miami.

Bayern Munich team news

Jamal Musiala managed 18 minutes after coming on as a substitute in the win against Flamengo and could feature once again as he continues his comeback from injury.

Leroy Sane has left the club, having completed his move to Galatasaray, while Coman could miss out with a knock.

PSG coach Luis Enrique’s pre-match thoughts

“At this stage of the competition, it will be difficult no matter who the opponent is. Now is the time to think about resting, we need to prepare well for the match, but we have the time to do so. We’re very happy.”

Bayern striker Harry Kane’s pre-match thoughts

“We have to believe [we can win the Club World Cup] for sure. We’re going up against a tough opponent in the next round, no doubt, Champions League winners. We have to be ready for that, but we feel like, on our day, we can beat anyone. It would be a dream come true to go all the way and win it, but there’s games before that.”

Possible PSG starting lineup

Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos (C), Pacho, Mendes; Neves, Ruiz, Vitinha; Doue, Dembele, Kvaratskhelia

Possible Bayern Munich starting lineup

Neuer (C); Laimer, Tah, Upamecano, Stanisic; Goretzka, Kimmich; Olise, Musiala, Gnabry; Kane

Who: Chelsea vs Palmeiras
What: FIFA Club World Cup quarterfinals
Where: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
When: Friday, July 4 at 9pm (01:00 GMT, July 5)

How to follow: We’ll have all the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from 6pm local (22:00 GMT) in advance of our live text commentary stream.

The second quarterfinal of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup pits English Premier League club Chelsea against Brazil’s Palmeiras.

Al Jazeera Sport takes a look at whether the match-up is a repeat of the 2021 final, which the Blues won 2-1 in the United Arab Emirates.

How did Chelsea reach the quarterfinals?

Chelsea picked up wins against Los Angeles and ES Tunis in the group stage to seal their qualification for the knockout rounds, although they did slip to a 3-1 defeat to another Brazilian club, Flamengo, to concede the top spot.

That handed the Blues a tricky all-European round of 16 tie against Benfica, which required extra time for the London-based club to progress with a 4-1 win.

A two-hour delay, with Chelsea leading 1-0 with four minutes of normal time to play, for nearby lightning was far from ideal in what has already proved a draining summer tournament.

How did Palmeiras reach the quarterfinals?

Two draws, against Corinthians and Porto, and a final match win against Al Ahly were enough for Palmeiras to progress to the last 16 of the tournament.

The cost of finishing second in the group, behind Porto, meant an all-Brazilian tie with Botafogo in the first knockout round.

Former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Paulinho came off the bench to score the only goal of the game in extra time to send Palmeiras through.

Who could Chelsea and Palmeiras face in the semifinals?

The winners of the first quarterfinal between Brazil’s Fluminense and Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal, played earlier in the day, await the winners of the second last-eight tie.

Who completes the Club World Cup quarterfinal lineup?

Paris Saint-Germain against Bayern Munich and Real Madrid against Borussia Dortmund complete the quarterfinal lineup, with the winners of those ties facing each other in the semifinals.

Can Joao Pedro play for Chelsea at the CWC?

Yes. Chelsea signed forward Joao Pedro from Brighton & Hove Albion on Wednesday and could make his debut for the London-based club in the quarterfinals.

Financial details were not disclosed, but British media reported that the deal was worth 60 million pounds ($81.54m).

“Everyone knows this is a big club with a great history,” the Brazilian, who has signed an eight-year contract, said in a statement.

“They had brilliant players in the past and have brilliant players now. So I am excited to join, and you know when you are a Chelsea player you must think one thing – win.”

The 23-year-old joined Brighton from Watford in 2023 and has scored 30 goals and provided 10 assists in 70 appearances for the south-coast club.

He has also made three appearances for Brazil’s senior team.

Chelsea captain Reece James’s pre-match thoughts

“We’ve come a long way. It was difficult to be so close to the end of the match and then have a kick in the teeth like that when we lost a late goal. We had to pick ourselves up and brush ourselves down – and to then score a few goals in extra time after the delay probably shows how far we’ve come, and everyone has played a part.”

Palmeiras coach Abel Ferreira’s pre-match thoughts

“Never give up, never give in. All the time, we work for this. I would like to say thank you to my players for all their efforts. We had an amazing game against Botafogo. When we needed to suffer, we suffered together with one player less. We deserved it because we work a lot.”

Next up: #FIFACWC Quarter-Finals. 🔜 pic.twitter.com/T49Cj3bOOy

— FIFA Club World Cup (@FIFACWC) July 2, 2025

Chelsea team news

Chelsea welcome back striker Nicolas Jackson after a two-game ban for his sending off in the defeat by Flamengo.

Moises Caicedo, however, sits out the tie after picking up a yellow card in the win against Benfica.

Palmeiras team news

Paulinho is set to have surgery on his leg after the tournament, so, despite his winning goal in the last round, the midfielder is set to remain among the substitutes.

Palmeiras will also be without the services of the suspended Uruguayan Joaquin Piquerez.

Estevao, who is set to join Chelsea following the finals, will, however, be able to play.

Head-to-head

This is only the second meeting between the sides following Chelsea’s 2-1 win in the 2021 Club World Cup final.

Romelu Lukaku and Kai Havertz scored for the Blues, either side of Raphael Veiga’s 64th-minute penalty, to settle the match that went to extra time. Luan was sent off for Palmeiras for a second yellow card in the final minute of the match.

Form guide – Chelsea’s last five games:

W-W-L-W-W

Form guide – Palmeira’s last five games:

D-D-W-D-W

Chelsea possible starting lineup:

Sanchez; James (c), Badiashile, Colwill, Cucurella; Essugo, Lavia; Palmer, Fernandez, Pedro Neto; Jackson

Palmeiras possible starting lineup:

Weverton (c); Giay, Micael, Bruno Fuchs; Mayke, Rios, Martinez, Vanderlan; Allan, Vitor Roque, Estevao

Who: Fluminense vs Al Hilal
What: FIFA Club World Cup 2025
Where: Camping World Stadium, Orlando, United States
When: Friday, July 4 at 3pm (19:00 GMT)

How to follow: We’ll have all the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from 12pm local (16:00 GMT) in advance of our live text commentary stream.

The first of the FIFA Club World Cup quarterfinals gets under way with the meeting of two mighty continents as South American giants Fluminense take on Asian powerhouse Al Hilal.

As successful as both sides have been in their own continents, however, their appearance in the last eight has come courtesy of both upsetting the odds – and in particular European super clubs – to reach this stage.

Al Jazeera Sport takes a look at the first of the quarterfinals as FIFA’s billion-dollar tournament closes towards its finale.

How did Fluminense reach the quarterfinals?

Fluminense finished second in Group H behind Borussia Dortmund with a win against Ulsan and draws against the German table toppers and Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa.

That set up a round-of-16 meeting with defeated Champions League finalist Inter Milan.

German Cano’s third-minute strike was followed up by a second from Hercules in the third minute of added time to seal a shock 2-0 win against the Serie A runners-up.

Who did Al Hilal beat to reach the quarterfinals?

Al Hilal secured second spot behind Real Madrid in Group H after draws against the Spanish giants and Austria’s Red Bull Salzburg, and a win against Mexico’s Pachuca.

A daunting test against defending Club World Cup champions, Manchester City.

A thrilling 4-3 win after extra time sent the Saudi Pro League club into the quarterfinals with one of the greatest upsets in the tournament’s history.

Who could Fluminense or Al Hilal face in the semifinal?

The winner of this match will face the winner of the second quarterfinal, England’s Chelsea or Brazil’s Palmeiras, in the last four.

That tie will take place at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia immediately after the Fluminense and Al Hilal match.

Who completes the Club World Cup quarterfinal lineup?

Paris Saint-Germain against Bayern Munich and Real Madrid against Borussia Dortmund complete the quarterfinal lineup, with the winners of those ties facing each other in the semifinals.

Fluminense captain Thiago Silva’s pre-match thoughts

“I think we’ve played very well in this competition. It’s not easy to play against European teams, but the motivation for us is different,” Silva said. “I’m very proud of my team and myself as well, because 10 days ago I had a hamstring injury. Now, we need to recover well because, after three or four days, we have to play again. I’m not young, you know? So I need to recover well.”

Al Hilal’s Marcos Leonardo’s pre-match thoughts

“I’ve had a difficult time in the last two months,” said Al Hilal’s two-goal hero against Manchester City. “My mother spent 70 days in the Intensive Care Unit. Today, she’s fine, thank God. When I scored those two goals, I thought of her – she was able to watch the match. We have to think about our families – people who want the best for us. If they weren’t watching, I wouldn’t be here today.”

Fluminense team news

Left-back Rene is suspended for the match following his second booking of the tournament in the win against Inter.

Al Hilal team news

Musab Al-Juwayr made his comeback from a knee injury with a substitute appearance in the win against Man City.

Captain Salem Al-Dawsari is unlikely to feature again in the competition after picking up a hamstring problem.

Next up: #FIFACWC Quarter-Finals. 🔜 pic.twitter.com/T49Cj3bOOy

— FIFA Club World Cup (@FIFACWC) July 2, 2025

Head-to-head

This is a first meeting between the sides.

Form guide

Fluminense’s last five games:

W-W-W-D-W

Al Hilal’s last five games:

W-D-D-W-W

Potential Fluminense starting lineup

Fabio; Samuel Xavier, Thiago Silva (C), Freytes, Fuentes; Martinelli, Hercules; Arias, Nonato, Canobbio; Cano

Potential Al Hilal starting lineup

Bounou; Joao Cancelo, Al-Harbi, Koulibaly, Renan Lodi; Nasser Al-Dawsari, Ruben Neves, Milinkovic-Savic; Malcom, Marcos Leonardo, Kanno (c)

EXPLAINER

Two all-European clashes, Brazilian flair and a Saudi surprise form the last-eight clashes of the Club World Cup.

Eight teams from across three continents have their sights set on the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 trophy as the tournament enters the second stage of its knockout matches.

After an extra-time thriller, two major upsets, three close encounters and two thumping wins, the quarterfinal lineup for the tournament has been completed as Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund became the last two teams to seal their spots.

The last-eight stage pits four European giants against each other, provides a Middle Eastern club the chance to build on their deserved success and two Brazilian teams the opportunity to take the continent further.

Here’s how the Club World Cup quarterfinal lineup looks:

⚽ First quarterfinal : Fluminense vs Al Hilal

When: Friday, July 4 at 3pm (19:00 GMT)
Where: Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Florida

Emotions will run high and the stands will be replete with colour and noise when one of Brazil’s oldest football clubs take on Saudi Arabia’s football giants Al Hilal at the 65,000-capacity venue in Florida.

Al Hilal will ride on the high of beating the tournament’s defending champions Manchester City 4-3 in an extra-time thriller in one of the biggest upsets in the tournament’s history on Tuesday.

Their Brazilian opponents, too, achieved similar success as they ousted Italian giants and UEFA Champions League finalists Inter Milan in a 2-0 win.

There will be no lack of noise and colour when fans of the two underdogs descend upon the Camping World Stadium on Friday.

⚽ Second quarterfinal : Palmeiras vs Chelsea

When: Friday, July 4 at 9pm (01:00 GMT, July 5 )
Where: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Palmeiras, the second Brazilian club to enter the quarterfinals, will face the former English champions Chelsea in Friday’s second quarterfinal in Philadelphia.

Runners-up in the last season of Serie A, the top tier of Brazil’s club football, Palmeiras beat compatriots Botafogo in a heated clash in the round of 16 and have been one of the strongest defensive lineups in the tournament.

Their opponents, who won the Club World Cup in 2021, will look to move past a disappointing season at home and enter the business end of the competition for a chance to lift a trophy.

The last-eight clash will be the final match held at the 69,000-capacity Lincoln Field stadium.

The winner will face the team that emerges victorious from the Al Hilal vs Fluminense match in the first semifinal.

⚽ Third quarterfinal : PSG vs Bayern Munich

When: Saturday, July 5 at 12pm (16:00 GMT)
Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

Arguably, the biggest clash of the quarterfinals pits two of the three title favourites remaining in the competition.

A win over German giants Bayern will consolidate European champions PSG‘s pedigree as one of the biggest clubs in the world and offer them a chance to complete a sensational season quadruple.

Bayern are the joint top goal-scoring team in the competition, with 16 goals in their four games so far, but their attack will be tested against the French champions at the 75,000-capacity stadium in Georgia.

⚽ Fourth quarterfinal: Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund

When: Saturday, July 5 at 4pm (20:00 GMT)
Where: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

The undisputed kings of the Club World Cup will come face-to-face with the German team that consistently finds itself amongst the best European clubs.

Real have welcomed back their star forward Kylian Mbappe and will hope he returns to his goalscoring form in a tough last-eight clash against a talented Dortmund team.

The match at the tournament’s biggest stadium and the venue for the 2026 FIFA World Cup final will provide a test for the organisers, whether they can fill up a huge stadium with fans of one of the most widely followed clubs in the world.

The winner of this clash will meet the winner of the PSG-Bayern match in the second semifinal.

Next up: #FIFACWC Quarter-Finals. 🔜 pic.twitter.com/T49Cj3bOOy

— FIFA Club World Cup (@FIFACWC) July 2, 2025

Half of the Fifa Club World Cup quarter-final ties have been set – and teams can start plotting a route to the final.

Chelsea, one of England’s two representatives, will play Palmeiras on Saturday, 5 July (02:00 BST).

The Blues reached this stage with an extra-time win over Benfica – in a game that was delayed for two hours because of the weather.

European champions Paris St-Germain play Bayern Munich later that day (17:00 BST) in a meeting of two heavyweights.

There are four remaining last 16 ties to be played – including Manchester City v Al-Hilal on Tuesday, 1 July (02:00 BST).

The last 16 draw in full:

Portuguese star says he’d rather prepare himself for a ‘very long’ season, which ends with the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Cristiano Ronaldo says he preferred to take a rest rather than play in the revamped FIFA Club World Cup as he aims to prolong his playing career for club and country.

The Portuguese international, who recently led his country to the UEFA Nations League title, made the comments on Saturday, two days after extending his stay at Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr.

Al Nassr announced on Thursday that Ronaldo had signed a two-year contract which would keep him at the club past his 42nd birthday and possibly his last appearance in the FIFA World Cup at its next iteration in the United States, Canada and Mexico in 2026.

Speculation over the 40-year-old’s plans intensified last month when FIFA President Gianni Infantino said discussions were under way about Ronaldo playing in the Club World Cup, despite Al Nassr failing to qualify, but the star forward swiftly brushed them aside.

“I had some offers to play in the [Club] World Cup but I think it didn’t make sense because I prefer to have a good rest, a good preparation, because this season will be very long as it is the World Cup season at the end of the year,” Ronaldo said in a video posted by Al Nassr on X.

“I want to be ready not only for Al Nassr but also for the national team. So, this is why I decided to play the last game for the Nations League and not listen to anything,” he added.

“And of course, to be in this club, which I love”.

Cristiano Ronaldo is staying at @AlNassrFC until 2027 💛🤩 pic.twitter.com/uVOzvZW4u7

— AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) June 26, 2025

Ronaldo scored for Portugal in the Nations League final against Spain earlier this month, which ended 2-2 before his side went on to beat the European champions on penalties.

The Portugal captain said his aim in staying at Al Nassr was to win a major trophy with the Riyadh-based side.

“My goal, it’s always to win something important for Al-Nassr. And of course I still believe in that,” Ronaldo added. “This is why I renewed the two years more because I believe that I will be a champion in Saudi Arabia.”

Ronaldo, who joined Al Nassr in 2022 after leaving Manchester United as a free agent, has scored 93 goals in 105 appearances for them in all competitions.

Ronaldo is also eyeing the 1,000-goal milestone in his career. He has scored 794 goals in club football and 138 for Portugal, taking his tally to 932.

If Manchester City win the tournament they would land about £92m in total – but Chelsea would earn slightly less.

The potential prize money was initially reported as £97m but the exchange rate between US dollars and British pounds has changed since then.

Teams get a participation fee for playing, which for European teams varies depending on “sporting and commercial criteria”.

City’s fee is the maximum of £27.9m. Chelsea are on the upper end of the scale but do not get quite as much, BBC Sport has been told.

Both teams qualified for the tournament by winning the Champions League in the past four seasons.

Teams from North America, Africa, Asia and Oceania get just under £7m, with South American clubs landing about £11m.

The prize money rises depending how far you go (regardless of which continent you are from).

The total prize pot Fifa has offered is $1bn (£730m), which is believed to be a record amount.

Chelsea became the first English side to reach the quarterfinals of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup following a 4-1 win after extra time against the 10-man Benfica in North Carolina.

Reece James scored the opening goal of the game in the 64th minute on Saturday, with a spectacular free kick from a tight angle on the left wing.

Angel Di Maria levelled the match in the fifth minute of stoppage time from the penalty spot after a soft handball decision against Malo Gusto.

Goals from Christopher Nkunku, Pedro Neto and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall restored and sealed Chelsea’s advantage in extra time to set up a quarterfinal meeting with Palmeiras.

The result was the least the Blues deserved after dominating the match from start to finish.

The end was heavily delayed, however, when the players were removed from the field of play at Bank Of America Stadium in Charlotte by the referee due to a nearby lightning storm.

The delay was nearly two hours in length, despite only four minutes remaining of the match when the players left the field. Chelsea’s players were visibly annoyed by the decision to halt the game so close to the full-time whistle, and with victory in sight.

Unusually high temperatures for the time of year contributed to the inclement conditions. Both the cause and the effect are a concern ahead of the FIFA 2026 World Cup also being staged by the United States next summer.

It is the sixth time a Club World Cup match has been halted due to bad weather.

Common public safety protocols in the US mandate that outdoor sports events are suspended for at least 30 minutes when lightning is seen or thunder heard.

The Blues dominated the possession and the chances, the best of which in the first half fell to Marc Cucurella whose curling effort from just inside the box was headed off the line by by Benfica’s Antonio Silva at the back post, with the keeper well beaten.

Cole Palmer drew the finest save from Benfica’s Ukrainian keeper, Anatoliy Trubin, when he was slipped into the box and powered a shot at the near post.

Trubin was left red-faced by the moment of magic from James to win the match as the wide player drilled his effort in at the near post, with the keeper seemingly more concerned about a potential cross.

Benfica’s leveller – after the lightning delay – came after Gusto left his arms flailing in the air and, although soft, the Video Assistant Referee had little choice but to call the referee to review the decision. Di Maria coolly slotted home the resulting kick, despite the stormy conditions that surrounded the stadium.

The comeback from Benfica, after the heavy delay to the match, was merely a further annoyance to Chelsea, whose job was made all the easier by a second yellow shown to Gianluca Prestianni.

The Benfica forward was booked during the celebrations for his side’s equaliser and was then shown a second yellow for a late tackle after only two minutes of extra time.

Palmeiras first to book CWC quarterfinal spot

Paulinho worked his way between a pair of defenders and rolled a shot into the back of the net in extra time earlier on Saturday to put Palmeiras into the quarterfinals with a 1-0 victory over Brazilian league rival Botafogo.

Paulinho, who has made one appearance for Brazil’s national team, dribbled through the defence with an inside cut from the right wing in the 100th minute. He then sent a left-footed shot into the lower left corner of John’s net.

Botafogo created multiple chances for an equalizer in the final minutes but could not get a goal.

The match at Lincoln Financial Field was full of attacking play, with a combined 35 shot attempts. Palmeiras, however, ended the match with 10 men after defender Gustavo Gomez was given a red card.

Gomez received a second yellow card in the 116th minute after tackling Igor Jesus in midfield to prevent Botafogo from starting a counterattack.

The 33,657 fans in attendance helped set the tone for the match with incessant cheering, bringing the flavour of a South American game to the United States.

“Coach has been saying this since the start of the season that we have a dream and dreaming costs nothing,” Palmeiras defender Bruno Fuchs said after.

“We follow that dream, one game after another. Always thinking about the present, about the next game… We’re very happy, we’re pleased to have qualified, and as I said, we have to keep dreaming.”

Who: Paris Saint-Germain vs Inter Miami
What: FIFA Club World Cup round of 16
Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, United States
When: Sunday, June 30 at 12pm (16:00 GMT)

How to follow: We’ll have all the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from 9am local (13:00 GMT) in advance of our live text commentary stream.

FIFA’s Club World Cup serves up a treat in the round of 16 as Lionel Messi leads Inter Miami against his former club, Paris Saint-Germain.

The Argentinian international forward joined the French giants, and now first-time European champions, from the club he represented since childhood, Barcelona.

PSG’s coveted European success was not forthcoming, and Messi headed for new pastures with his 2023 move to Major League Soccer.

Now, Messi faces a PSG side shorn of many of the Galacticos recruited to seal European glory, but full of youthful exuberance and riding the crest of their Champions League wave.

Al Jazeera Sport takes a closer look at the match.

Why does Messi’s Miami vs PSG carry such weight?

When PSG meet Inter Miami, it will mark a rare reunion of European football greats, all layered with old loyalties, recent regrets and the chance for Lionel Messi to settle a score.

Sunday’s game features a compelling contrast of eras – a PSG side powered by youth and energy fresh off their maiden Champions League title, and an Inter Miami team built around ageing-but-iconic former Barcelona stars.

On the PSG touchline, Luis Enrique comes face to face with four players he once led at Barcelona: Messi, Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets.

They are all now reunited under Miami coach Javier Mascherano, another figure from Luis Enrique’s treble-winning era at Camp Nou.

“Luis Enrique is a phenomenon,” Alba said this week. “I’m excited to see him and will give him a hug, but when the ref blows the opening whistle, we’ll try to beat him.”

Suarez, now 38, reflected on his former manager’s impact: “I already had a competitive DNA, but he injected even more into me,” he said.

Do the Barcelona contingent have history with PSG?

In another layer of intrigue, Miami’s contingent of former Barcelona players were all part of 2017’s “Remontada” against PSG.

That was PSG’s darkest night, when Barca thrashed them 6-1 in Spain after losing 4-0 in Paris in their last-16 Champions League tie.

That was when Miami’s veterans were at their peak.

Now, they rely on memory and rhythm, while PSG’s core has been reshaped by a rising generation: Bradley Barcola, Desire Doue and Vitinha have helped inject fresh energy into Luis Enrique’s system, culminating in a Champions League triumph just weeks ago.

How did PSG fare in the group stage?

The Parisian side arrive in Atlanta after a 1–0 loss to Brazil’s Botafogo in the group stage, which raised questions about fatigue following a long European season.

Though PSG remain heavy favourites on paper, that defeat showed cracks in a squad that has played more high-stakes matches than most of their rivals.

PSG took their group with wins in their opening games against Atletico Madrid and Seattle Sounders.

How did Inter Miami fare in the group stage?

Inter Miami finished second in their group behind Palmeiras with one win and two draws to their name.

The Messi-inspired 2-1 win against Porto was crucial to their progress.

Can Miami’s Argentina axis take down PSG?

“It will be an honour for me facing a great coach, one of the greatest I’ve had in my career,” said Mascherano of Luis Enrique.

Now in his first major club coaching role, Mascherano brings an emotional edge and tactical sharpness to a Miami side that, while physically limited by age, can still threaten, especially with Messi in form.

The Argentina great endured a turbulent two-year stint at PSG after leaving Barcelona in 2021. Though he won domestic silverware, Messi never found peace in Paris and, after his World Cup win in 2022, some fans turned on him.

“I didn’t enjoy myself at PSG,” Messi told reporters earlier this year. “It was a tough period.”

Mascherano believes that memory still drives him.

“When something’s stuck in his mind, Messi gives a little extra,” he said this week.

What went so wrong for Messi at PSG?

PSG had made it to the Champions League final and then semifinals in the two seasons prior to Messi’s arrival, so he looked like the final piece in the jigsaw.

Instead, they went backwards with him in the side, going out of Europe’s elite club competition in the last 16 two years running.

Having to fit in Messi, with his estimated annual salary of 30 million euros ($35.2 million) after tax, as well as Neymar and Mbappe, may have increased the star appeal, but it weakened them as a team.

Towards the end, the Barcelona legend was even being jeered by some sections of the PSG support who felt Messi’s commitment to the cause was not what it should have been.

Messi was a PSG player when he inspired Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar in late 2022, but there were only flashes of his genius at club level in France.

His statistics stand up to any scrutiny, with 32 goals and 35 assists in 75 appearances, and he did win two Ligue 1 titles while helping increase PSG’s value as a brand.

Miami coach Javier Mascherano, meanwhile, believes the unhappy memory of his time in Paris could spur Messi on.

“It’s clear that for us it’s better if he plays angry, because he’s one of those players who, when he has something on his mind, gives an extra effort,” Mascherano told ESPN.

How did PSG fare last season?

PSG’s stunning 5-0 demolition of Inter Milan in Munich at the end of last month, which allowed them to win the UEFA Champions League for the first time, completed an incredible treble-winning season for the Qatar-backed side under the coaching of Luis Enrique.

How did Inter Miami fare last season?

Miami finished as the club with the most points in Major League Soccer’s (MLS) regular season, handing them a place at the Club World Cup instead of LA Galaxy, who won the MLS Cup, which is regarded as the highest prize in the MLS.

FIFA announced Miami’s addition to the Club World Cup in October after they broke MLS’s regular-season points record with a 6-2 win over New England Revolution to reach 74 points, one better than the previous record set by New England in 2021.

PSG team news

Ousmane Dembele has just resumed training after overcoming a hamstring injury, but may not even be fit enough for the bench.

Goncalo Ramos and Bradley Barcola are vying to start with Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in. Youngster Senny Mayulu was selected for the match against Seattle in Dembele’s role.

Inter Miami team news

Jordi Alba has returned from injury and will challenge youngster Noah Allen for the left-back position.

Drake Callender, Gonzalo Lujan and Yannick Bright are all still sidelined. Veteran goalkeeper Oscar Ustari will continue to deputise for the former.

PSG predicted starting lineup:

Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes; Ruiz, Vitinha, Neves; Kvaratskhelia, Ramos, Doue

Inter Miami predicted starting lineup:

Ustari; Weigandt, Aviles, Falcon, Allen; Allende, Redondo, Busquets, Segovia; Messi, Suarez

PSG form guide (all competitions):

W-W-W-L-W

Inter Miami form guide (all competitions):

W-W-D-W-D

The Mirror’s TV writer Jake Hackney joined DAZN to watch the FIFA Club World Cup for free, but the streaming platform’s other features left him impressed

The FIFA Club World Cup kicked off earlier this month, so the Mirror’s TV writer Jake Hackney set up a free DAZN account to see what all the hype is about. Like many Brits, Jake always linked DAZN with boxing, but as that’s never been his sport, he was yet to truly delve into the platform.

DAZN is now the sole global broadcaster of all 63 matches in the Club World Cup and is showing every game for free. FIFA has really pulled out all the stops with the competition, giving it a makeover with a new format featuring 32 of the world’s top clubs.

Manchester City and Chelsea are flying the flag for the Premier League, along with the likes of Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Miami and Boca Juniors. The tournament runs until the final on July 13, and football fans can sign up for a free DAZN account to watch every match.

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As Jake previously told the Mirror, he found it odd not watching football on the BBC or Sky Sports, but given the quality of content and amount of extras available on DAZN, he believes the streaming platform will become more associated with football in the future. Jake opted for the free account, but there’s also the option to upgrade to DAZN’s Premium plan from £9.99.

This includes every Club World Cup match in HDR picture quality and Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound, plus highlights, replays, fewer adverts and full access to the rest of the DAZN platform. But even with a free account, there’s plenty of football content to keep fans entertained in the gap between the Premier League and EFL seasons.

Watch the Club World Cup free on DAZN

The streaming service is showing all of the FIFA Club World Cup games.

What struck Jake was the sheer volume of content available beyond the live matches, with a plethora of features, shows and compilations readily accessible on the Club World Cup homepage. Interviews with big names such as Harry Kane and Pep Guardiola are featured, along with DAZN’s ‘Icons’ series, which offers an in-depth look at each team and the 12 USA host cities.

Since signing up to DAZN, Jake has found himself engrossed in the amount of documentaries focusing on football greats like Cristiano Ronaldo, Maradona and Brazilian Ronaldo. There’s a treasure trove of vintage footage showcasing all the goals scored by specific teams at previous FIFA World Cups, featuring legends like Alessandro Del Piero, Raúl and Didier Drogba.

In short, there’s a feast of content to delve into on DAZN. It’s also straightforward to keep up with the latest competition, with every forthcoming fixture displayed on the Club World Cup homepage complete with dates and kick-off times, as well as the option to view the group brackets and tables, making it simple to stay updated with the current standings.

One can track their favourite teams in the competition to receive a push notification before their games, with Jake following Chelsea and Man City. DAZN sends him reminders about each of their fixtures, though with some kicking off in the early hours, he’ll opt to watch the DAZN highlights instead.

For those who aren’t keen on adding another subscription to their list, DAZN has sublicensed a selection of matches to Channel 5, meaning 23 games will be shown on both DAZN and Channel 5. This could be a good alternative for football fans who aren’t as tech-savvy or don’t mind missing out on some games.

Of course, there’s always the traditional Sky Sports package that costs £35 per month on a 24-month contract, in addition to essential Sky TV. This includes nine dedicated channels, covering the Premier League, Football, Cricket, Golf, F1, Boxing, NFL, NBA, Netball and much more, although the length of the contract might be a drawback for some.

DAZN boasts an impressive lineup of pundits for its Club World Cup coverage, including none other than Brazilian legend Ronaldo. Other big names include John Obi Mikel and Sami Khedira, with Conor McNamara, Andros Townsend, Brad Friedel, Rob Green among the commentators, offering a refreshing change from the usual voices on Sky or TNT Sports.

Jake has been using DAZN on both his Samsung smart TV and iPhone 13 and it’s performed largely well. There have been moments where it’s been slightly slow to respond and there’s been a bit of lag, but once a live game or documentary has loaded up, he has encountered no major problems.