{"id":156250,"date":"2025-07-08T17:36:53","date_gmt":"2025-07-08T17:36:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/fluminense-vs-chelsea-live-updates-club-world-cup-semifinal-team-news-predictions-and-latest-the-new-york-times\/"},"modified":"2025-07-08T17:36:53","modified_gmt":"2025-07-08T17:36:53","slug":"fluminense-vs-chelsea-live-updates-club-world-cup-semifinal-team-news-predictions-and-latest-the-new-york-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/fluminense-vs-chelsea-live-updates-club-world-cup-semifinal-team-news-predictions-and-latest-the-new-york-times\/","title":{"rendered":"Fluminense vs Chelsea live updates: Club World Cup semifinal team news, predictions and latest – The New York Times"},"content":{"rendered":"

FIFA Club World Cup
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Updated 5m ago<\/span>
Fluminense and Chelsea meet at MetLife Stadium for the first of the 2025 Club World Cup semi-finals.<\/strong>
The winner will face either Real Madrid or Paris Saint-Germain in Sunday's final.
Fluminense are the surprise package of the tournament having defied the odds in their last two matches to make it this far. Chelsea, meawhile, have benefitted from a relatively favourable draw and are expected to win today's game.
You can sign up to DAZN<\/a> to watch every FIFA Club World Cup game for free.<\/em>
The scene, as Chelsea\u2019s players flocked to Estevao at the final whistle at Lincoln Financial Field, was telling. There was a language barrier between them, but Cole Palmer and Liam Delap asked their Portuguese team-mate Dario Essugo to tell the Brazilian teenager just what they thought of him.
That Club World Cup quarter-final in Philadelphia on Friday night was Estevao\u2019s last game for Palmeiras before he joins Chelsea in a transfer worth an initial \u00a329.3million ($40m) and potentially \u00a349m depending on how well he performs for the London club. The stunning goal he scored, thrashing the ball past Robert Sanchez from a tight angle, was a parting gift to the Palmeiras fans as well as the perfect getting-to-know-you to his new team-mates and supporters \u2014 well, perfect once Chelsea emerged victorious on the night, anyway.
\u201cCongratulations, Chelsea,\u201d Palmeiras coach Abel Ferreira told reporters after the game. \u201cYou have an amazing player.\u201d
There was a slight<\/em> note of caution.
\u201cHe is a kid that is 18 years old, so Chelsea need to take care of him,\u201d Ferreira said. \u201cThey need to embrace him because in the beginning, for sure, he will make mistakes. I am sure Chelsea have all the conditions to support him. He\u2019s a fantastic player, but he needs the help, for sure.\u201d
Read more below<\/em>
GO FURTHER
Chelsea, Estevao and the race for Brazil\u2019s best: \u2018Stockpiling\u2019, smart or both?
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Chelsea were drawn against Benfica in the last 16 after the Portuguese side beat Bayern Munich to top spot in Group C. Reece James scored a brilliant free kick which looked to be sending his side pretty easily into the quarter-final but a two-hour weather delay changed the game.
The two teams returned to the pitch with just a few minutes left of the game and Benfica forced extra time after Angel Di Maria converted a penalty deep into stoppage time. Fortunately for Chelsea, Gianluca Prestianni was sent off two minutes into extra time so Enzo Maresca's men were able to streak away and they ultimately won 4-1.
Palmeiras, starring incoming youngster Estevao, awaited in the quarter-final. Chelsea took the lead for the fifth time thanks to a nice finish from Cole Palmer but they were pegged back by a superb Estevao effort.
With the game creeping towards extra time, a Weverton own goal won it for the Premier League side to secure their semi-final place.
Chelsea, coming into the tournament having won the Europa Conference League, enjoyed the benefit of arguably the easiest draw of any European teams at this Club World Cup.
They got off to a good start by beating LAFC 2-0 thanks to goals from Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernandez but had their progress checked in their second match.
They took the lead against Flamengo but a chaotic six-minute period saw them go behind on the scoreboard and then lose Nicolas Jackson to another red card. Flamengo scored again to make it 3-1 to move top of Group D.
Chelsea were able to confirm progression to the knockouts with a comfortable 3-0 win against Esperance, taking them into the knockouts as runners-up.
It was a haze of maroon euphoria after Fluminense's win against Al Hilal but Thiago Silva, their leader whose words inspired them to another underdog victory in the last round against Inter Milan, broke the circle slightly early.
Some players were hugging like velcro, others had flags draped around them. Some swung club scarves like a lasso.
Not Silva. He was stoic, walking alone towards the tunnel, sipping from a water bottle, his mind already focused on the semi-final. A picture of tranquility that makes his spine-tingling team talk four days earlier look like it was delivered by a different person.
Control is his superpower.
Read more below<\/em>
GO FURTHER
Thiago Silva\u2019s timeless leadership has Fluminense dreaming of Club World Cup glory
Despite being on that less daunting side of the draw, Fluminense faced a tough test in the last 16 against beaten UEFA Champions League finalists Inter.
But the Brazilians were up to the task and struck twice to cause one of the upsets of the tournament. German Cano scored inside three minutes before Hercules doubled the lead, and secured the victory, in the third minute of second-half stoppage time.
And they were underdogs again in their quarter-final against Al Hilal. But, once again, they upset the odds. Martinelli opened the scoring with a brilliant strike before super sub Hercules scored another goal off the bench, which turned out to be the winner after Marcos Leonardo had equalised for the Saudi Arabians.
Fluminense were handed a rather favourable draw for this tournament and made sure to take advantage of that.
They were unlucky in their Group F opener against Borussia Dortmund, outplaying the Germans but failing to score in a goalless draw. Fluminense then came from behind to beat Ulsan HD in a six-goal thriller.
They could have confirmed top spot with victory over Mamelodi Sundowns in their last group game but failed to score again<\/em> in a goalless draw. In the end, they had to settle for second place behind Dortmund, but that handed them a place in the 'easier' side of the draw.
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Speaking at training earlier in the week, Joao Pedro was asked about his decision to move from Brighton up to west London.
💬 \u201cI think Chelsea is a big club and my dream was always to play for a big club and to win trophies. Chelsea have a great team, a young team and I think that's why I came here.<\/em><\/strong>
\u201cWhen I left Watford I was in the Championship, then I went to Brighton. If you watch the group stage of the Europa League I was top scorer and I'm ready for a new challenge. That's why I joined Chelsea.\u201d<\/em><\/strong>
Like Thiago Silva, Joao Pedro is in line to face his former club today.
The newly signed Chelsea forward came through the academy at Fluminense, joining them as a defensive midfielder in 2011 before making his first-team debut eight years later at the age of 17.
The Brazilian only spent a season in the first team before moving to Watford in 2020. He made 36 first-team appearances for Fluminense and scored 10 goals.
Like his counterpart, Enzo Maresca will be forced into at least two changes for today's game given a couple of his players earned suspensions in their last match.
Liam Delap and Levi Colwill were both shown their second yellow cards of the tournament in the quarter-final so are banned for today's game and will need to be replaced in the starting XI.
The good news for Maresca and Chelsea is that Moises Caicedo has returned from his suspension and is available for selection.
Joao Pedro was given a debut in that last match, so is likely to be given his first Chelsea start in the absence of Delap.
The appropriately named Hercules has been the hero for Fluminense in each of their last two wins.
In both games, he has come off the bench and scored a vital goal. Against Inter, he scored a late equaliser while he got the winner against Al Hilal in the quarter-final.
Despite his newfound reputation as a super sub, the 24-year-old started Fluminense's first four matches. He will surely be set for his fifth start of the tournament given Martinelli's suspension.
Initially, there looked to be some worry over Thiago Silva's during the incident for which he was booked in the last match, but it turned out just to be an injury to his nose so he will be fit to play.
Fluminense will be without one of his centre-back partners, though, as Juan Pablo Freytes is suspended after receiving his second yellow card of the tournament in the last round. The same was true of Martinelli, who scored a superb opening goal, and he will miss out today.
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Thiago Silva has impressed so far at this tournament despite only being a couple of months from his 41st birthday \u2014 his manager, Renato Portaluppi, was full of praise for him when he spoke yesterday.
💬 "Thiago is a monster on the pitch. He is a major World Cup player and has helped us a lot. He is essentially a coach on the pitch, and he knows European football and Chelsea really well. <\/em><\/strong>
"His experience has been critical."<\/em><\/strong>
Thiago Silva was also asked about knowing many of the players he will be lining up against and whether he has been spying on them.
💬 "No, I\u2019m not a spy. I don\u2019t know (Enzo) Maresca that well, but I do know a lot of players therre. I talk to them practically every week. Some of them are very close to me.<\/em><\/strong>
"The expectations are high, and the anxiety is high about facing them in a Club World Cup semi-final, so I\u2019m trying to help the coaching staff with some interesting details – but they are things that will stay between us."<\/em><\/strong>
Thiago Silva, speaking ahead of today's game, discussed what spell in west London.
💬 "I am grateful for everything I have been through. Chelsea were a very special team in my life. I won one of the biggest titles of my career there.I\u2019m happy about this match. It\u2019s going to be a special day for me, but it will be even more special if we win.<\/em><\/strong>
"I don\u2019t think even the most hopeful fan could have imagined that we could be where we are today, in a Club World Cup semi-final, but we got here on merit, with hard work."<\/em><\/strong>
For Chelsea fans, there is a very familiar face in the heart of the Fluminense backline.
Thiago Silva \u2014 who spent four years at Stamford Bridge between 20204 and 2024 \u2014 is the captain of the Brazilian side and still looks as assured as ever.
Now 40 years old, Silva shared a brilliant relationship with the Chelsea fans and made more than 150 appearances for the club.
The fans in blue inside MetLife Stadium this afternoon will surely give him a great ovation.
We have our final quartet and there are just three matches left at the 2025 Club World Cup \u2014 here is the line-up for the last week of the tournament.
Tuesday, July 8<\/strong>
Wednesday, July 9<\/strong>
Sunday, July 13<\/strong>
All times ET, all matches at MetLife Stadium<\/em>
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MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey<\/strong>
Each of the last three matches of this Club World Cup will be played here, as will next year's World Cup final. After having been to MetLife Stadium multiple times to cover the Copa Am\u00e9rica last summer, I can understand why the venue has been chosen for back-to-back FIFA tournament finals.
It\u2019s gigantic. It\u2019s the type of stadium that makes one feel tiny in comparison with the colossal concrete structure. Argentina\u2019s Copa Am\u00e9rica semifinal against Canada was a prime example of what MetLife Stadium can sound like for a big international football match. The Argentines took over the ground, chanting and singing throughout the game.
If you\u2019re a sports fan, there is no better place to follow all your favourite teams, leagues, and players than with The Athletic<\/em>.
From the UK, we\u2019ve got you covered throughout this expanded Club World Cup and on into the build-up to next summer\u2019s World Cup, while Wimbledon started at the beginning of the week. Elsewhere, the F1 season is well into its European swing and there is Open Championship golf just a couple of weeks away.
We have the lot covered and much more, so make sure you\u2019re fully informed with access to our full experience. And you\u2019re in luck \u2014 you can subscribe to The Athletic<\/em> on an exclusive offer here<\/a>.
Every match at this Club World Cup will be broadcast around the world (where available) on DAZN.
There are, however, other ways to watch with DAZN sub licensing out the rights for a select number of matches.
This game is one of those that you can find elsewhere; TNT and truTV are showing it in the United States.<\/p>\n

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FIFA Club World CupAdvertisementliveUpdated 5m agoFluminense and Chelsea meet at MetLife Stadium for the first of the 2025 Club World Cup semi-finals.The winner will face either Real Madrid or Paris Saint-Germain in Sunday's final.Fluminense are the surprise package of the tournament having defied the odds in their last two matches to make it this far. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":156251,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-156250","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-world","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/156250","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=156250"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/156250\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/156251"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=156250"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=156250"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=156250"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}