At 3 PM local time at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, just outside New York City, the first Semifinal of the new Club World Cup kicks off: the magical Flu face off against the Blues, fresh from their Conference League triumph. Thiago Silva takes on his recent past.
Today, Tuesday, July 8 at 9 PM Italian time (3 PM local), Fluminense and Chelsea will face each other in the first Semifinal of the FIFA Club World Cup at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, near New York.
After eliminating Inter in the Round of 16 and Al Hilal in the Quarterfinals, Fluminense are the surprise package of the tournament and now dare to dream big: the grand final on July 13 is within reach.
Leading the Brazilian side is Thiago Silva, a charismatic leader and club icon, who today will come up against his most recent past: Chelsea, with whom he won everything, including the Club World Cup (in its previous format) in 2021. But today, emotions must give way to the match. Alongside him will be the ageless Fabio in goal, the solid Freytes and Martinelli at the back, and the creativity of Arias and Nonato, plus the wild card Hercules, a surprise standout in the knockout rounds.
Maresca’s Chelsea arrive at the Semifinal after a season full of surprises: preseason predictions were confirmed with their Conference League win, and now the Blues are chasing a more prestigious trophy. Having knocked out Benfica and Palmeiras in the knockout stage, the Londoners have found balance and flair with each passing game. With Delap suspended, new signing Joao Pedro will line up alongside Palmer and Neto. The dynamic Nicolas Jackson is ready to make an impact off the bench.
Two different paths, but one shared goal: the Club World Cup Final — the first of the new 32-team era. Tonight, we’ll find out who will make history.
2025 Club World Cup Bracket
| Stage | Match | Date & Time | Stadium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Semifinal 1 | Fluminense vs Chelsea | Tuesday, July 8, 3 PM (9 PM ITA) | MetLife Stadium, New York |
| Semifinal 2 | PSG vs Real Madrid | Wednesday, July 9, 3 PM (9 PM ITA) | MetLife Stadium, New York |
| Final | Winner SF1 vs Winner SF2 | Sunday, July 13, 3 PM (9 PM ITA) | MetLife Stadium, New York |
