Who: Chelsea vs Fluminense
What: Semifinal, FIFA Membership World Cup 2025
The place: MetLife Stadium, New Jersey, United States
When: Tuesday, July 8 at 3pm native time (19:00 GMT)
Methods to comply with: We’ll have all of the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from midday (16:00 GMT) upfront of our dwell textual content commentary stream.
Chelsea will likely be hoping to seal their spot within the 2025 FIFA Membership World Cup (CWC) remaining with victory in opposition to Brazil’s Fluminense within the opening semifinal on Tuesday.
The Blues are striving to change into the primary aspect to win the CWC for a second time however face a formidable process in opposition to the Rio de Janeiro giants, who’re unbeaten within the match.
Right here is all to know earlier than their semifinal showdown at MetLife Stadium, simply exterior New York:
How did Chelsea attain the semifinals?
Chelsea completed second in Group D to a different Brazilian tremendous membership, Flamengo.
The London-based membership opened their marketing campaign with a 2-1 win over Los Angeles FC, earlier than stumbling to a tricky 3-1 loss in opposition to Flamengo. They certified for the knockout stage with a 3-0 defeat of Esperance de Tunisie.
Enzo Maresca’s aspect confronted the Group C winners Benfica within the final 16, beating the Portuguese aspect 4-1 after further time.
The Blues then performed a second Brazilian membership within the quarterfinals, beating Palmeiras 2-1 to qualify for the ultimate 4.
Cole Palmer, proper, scores the primary aim for Chelsea in opposition to Palmeiras within the FIFA Membership World Cup quarterfinal at Lincoln Monetary Area, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US, July 4, 2025 (Lee Smith/Reuters)
How did Fluminense attain the semifinals?
Fluminense, who certified for the CWC as winners of the 2023 Copa Libertadores, have been unbeaten in Group F, ending second behind Borussia Dortmund with one win and two attracts.
They performed out a 0-0 scoreline with Dortmund of their match opener, then defeated South Korean aspect Ulsan HD 4-2. Of their remaining group fixture, they performed out 0-0 in opposition to Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa.
Within the knockout section, Fluminense upset Inter Milan 2-0 in Charlotte, then ended the fairytale run of Saudi membership Al Hilal within the quarterfinal, profitable 2-1 and reserving 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 many best defenders of all time, is the previous skipper of Chelsea, having performed greater than 150 matches for the English membership from 2020 till 2024.
Silva was a fan favorite at Stamford Bridge and gained three trophies throughout his time with Chelsea, together with the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Tremendous Cup and FIFA Membership World Cup.
Silva is predicted to be within the beginning XI in opposition to his previous membership.
Fluminense’s Thiago Silva will go well with up in opposition to his previous membership Chelsea in Tuesday’s Membership World Cup semifinal (File: Hannah Mckay/Reuters)
Head-to-head
This would be the first aggressive assembly between Fluminense and Chelsea.
When did Chelsea win the FIFA Membership World Cup?
Chelsea gained the 18th version of the CWC in 2021, hosted within the United Arab Emirates.
The Blues gained the ultimate 2-1 in opposition to Palmeiras on the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
The match was initially deliberate to happen in late 2021 in Japan, however was moved to February 2022 within the UAE as a result of COVID-19 pandemic.
Cesar Azpilicueta of Chelsea lifts the trophy after the FIFA Membership World Cup UAE 2021 remaining in opposition to Palmeiras at Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, UAE, February 12, 2022 (Francois Nel/Getty Pictures)
Is that this the primary CWC look for Fluminense?
Fluminense made their Membership World Cup debut on the 2023 match in Saudi Arabia, making all of it the way in which to the ultimate in Jeddah the place they misplaced to Manchester Metropolis 4-0.
Workforce information: Chelsea
Chelsea will likely be with out Levi Colwill and Liam Delap after each acquired their second yellow playing cards of the match in opposition to Palmeiras within the quarterfinal.
Moises Caicedo will rejoin the Blues squad after serving his suspension.
On the harm entrance, Romeo Lavia and Reece James have been each held again in opposition to Palmeiras and are questionable heading into Tuesday’s match. Omari Kellyman is unavailable for choice.
Workforce Information: Fluminense
Fluminense will likely be with out Juan Pablo Freytes and Mathues Martinelli – who scored the game-winner in opposition to Al Hilal within the quarterfinal – after each acquired their second yellow playing cards of the match of their last-eight remaining in opposition to the Saudi membership.
Key defender Rene returns to the membership from suspension and is predicted to reclaim his place within the beginning XI on the expense of Gabriel Fuentes, whom coach Renato Gaucho would possibly redeploy in an attacking midfield function in opposition to Chelsea.
Talisman Jhon Arias ought to once more lead Fluminense’s ahead line.
Central midfielder Otavio was a pretournament scratching after struggling a season-ending Achilles tendon tear in Might.
Jhon Arias has loved a breakout match for Fluminense on the FIFA CWC 2025, offering the Brazilian aspect with a continuing attacking risk (File: Carl Recine/FIFA through Getty Pictures)
Potential lineups:
Chelsea: sanchez; Gusto, Tosin, Chalobah, CucureLla; Fernandez, caicedo; Neto, palmer, nkunku; Pedro
Fluminense: Fabio; Ignacio, Silva, Rene; Xavier, Hercules, Bernal, Nonato, Fuente; Arias, pipe
What the coaches needed to say
Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca stated: “I watched some video games that they (Fluminense) have performed. And you may see that they’re very well-organised. They’ve some excellent gamers. The supervisor (Gaucho) is doing a incredible job.”
“And once more, it is going to be the identical (within the semi) remaining. The power from the Brazilian workforce on this competitors has been excessive … In all probability … since you are beginning now the season, whereas we’re ending the season. So, the power is regular. It’s totally different. And we attempt to cope with that another way.”
Renato Gaucho, who has helped Fluminense defy the percentages to knock out Champions League runners-up Inter Milan within the final 16 and Al Hilal within the quarterfinals, spoke after his aspect certified for the semifinal in opposition to Chelsea.
“It’s one other step ahead, due to everybody’s efforts. Taking part within the Membership World Cup is a novel alternative … We have no idea once we could have the prospect to take part once more. I dedicate this qualification (victory over Al Hilal) to our followers, and I think about the fantastic environment in Rio de Janeiro, simply because it was fantastic right here within the stadium, it was a deserved victory.”
Chelsea supervisor Enzo Maresca throughout coaching in Miami, Florida, US, on July 3, 2025 (Marco Bello/Reuters)
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