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Chelsea crowned FIFA Club World Cup 2025 champions after beating PSG

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The expanded FIFA Club World Cup 2025 kicks off on Sunday in the United States of America (USA).

The 21st edition of the Club World Cup will see 32 teams competing in 63 matches over 29 days before the tournament football concludes on July 15. Past editions of the Club World Cup have been contested between six to eight teams.

As per the new FIFA Club World Cup format, 32 clubs have been drawn into eight groups of four teams each.

Of the 32 teams competing in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, 12 represent UEFA, six come from CONMEBOL and one from the OFC. Each of the AFC, CAF and CONCACAF have four representatives, while one additional spot is reserved for a club from the host nation.

The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 features the winners of the top continental club competitions from 2021 to 2024.

If a team won their continental title more than once during this period, their additional spot was allocated to the next best-ranked club from that confederation, as is the case with Real Madrid, who won the UEFA Champions League twice in the last four years.

Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami were handed the additional spot reserved for a host nation club based on their exceptional 2024 campaign, in which they broke the all-time MLS record for most points in a single season to secure the Supporters' Shield.

The remaining spots were filled based on club rankings over the same four-year period.

While UEFA used its own club coefficient system to determine the rankings, the other confederations used FIFA’s four‑year point system that gives teams three points for every win, one for a draw and a bonus for every time a team advances to the next round of a competition.

A maximum of two clubs per country have qualified for the upcoming Club World Cup - except for Brazil, which will have four representatives. This exception is due to Brazilian clubs' dominance in the CONMEBOL Libertadores - South America’s top club tournament - in the last four editions.

All teams will play the other three sides in their respective groups once, with the top two outfits at the end of all the group games progressing to the knockout stage, which comprises the pre-quarterfinals, quarter-finals, semi-finals and the final.

The last edition of the FIFA Club World Cup, held in 2023, saw English giants Manchester City win the seven-team tournament. Spanish heavyweights Real Madrid are the most successful team in the history of the tournament, having won it five times.







 
Glorified friendlies. The fixture list for pro footballers is ridiculous.
 
Lionel Messi and a heavy security presence were on show as the revamped Club World Cup got under way in the US on Saturday.

Host city side Inter Miami, led by Argentine legend Messi, played out an entertaining goalless against Egyptian giants Al Ahly to kick off the tournament.

Miami were thankful to goalkeeper and man of the match Oscar Ustari for making a string of saves, including one from the penalty spot, to preserve a clean sheet.

Messi came close to opening the scoring in the second period with a free-kick and almost won it late on with an incredible, long-range strike but saw his effort acrobatically tipped onto the crossbar by Mohamed el Shenawy.

This event, which has been much maligned in some parts, may have started without a goal but finally the talk can be about the football - or can it?

Police presence felt in Miami​

Matchday was the first time this week that it felt like a significant tournament was about to get under way.

Around the South Beach area travelling Al Ahly supporters were enjoying lunch and drinks before the big game.

The Egyptian side had qualified as winners of the African Champions League and have serious pedigree, winning more league championships (45) and more titles on the continent (12) than any other club, but they could not translate that on to the global stage.

Along the Route 95 highway towards the stadium, advertising boards were showcasing the fixture, declaring it's "showtime" in true American fashion.

The last major game to be played at the Hard Rock Stadium took place 11 months ago when "a party almost became a tragedy" as ticketless fans forced their way in to the ground for the Copa America final between Argentina and Colombia, delaying kick-off by 80 minutes.

Authorities learned a tough lesson and were taking no chances, making sure there was no repeat this time as police cars with flashing sirens lined the boulevards outside the stadium.

With that match and recent unrest in Los Angeles in mind, police officers with 'counter terrorism' logos patrolled the exterior of the venue and numerous security checks and bag searches were made before entry was granted.

Supporters needed extra time to make their way inside as they were forced to have further checks at a second perimeter point.

It remains to be seen whether the same approach will be taken in Sunday's fixtures, which take place in LA, Cincinnati, New York/New Jersey and Seattle.

Fireworks, razzmatazz and almost some Messi magic​

Once through the extensive screening process, it was the first time supporters bearing 'Messi 10' shirts were spotted in the city - and the glaring pink and black shirts were out in their numbers.

"Messi, Messi, Messi" was the chant of choice from his adoring fans, just like it had been at Argentina's glorious run to winning the World Cup in Qatar three years ago.

The former Barcelona forward sent an effort narrowly over and had another bending strike saved by El Shenawy, before curling a delightful free-kick into the side netting which many of the crowd thought had gone in.

The week leading up to the opening game featured apparent ticketing issues but Fifa president Gianni Infantino said he expected "a full stadium" with an "incredible atmosphere".

He positioned himself in the stands at the centre of a front three, flanked by footballing icons Ronaldo of Brazil and Italian legend Roberto Baggio.

What Infantino wanted and what he got were two different things.

Casting a glance around, thousands of empty green seats were clearly evident in the 65,326-capacity stadium and a crowd of 60,927 was announced in the second half.

But the presence of Messi, the sizeable travelling Egyptian contingent - who chanted and waved flags throughout - and an action-packed game made for a watchable contest.

As with all American sporting events, it began with a rendition of the national anthem, with the singer accompanied by a large stars-and-stripes flag.

Students from the local Miami Dade College then carried out large badges of the 32 competing clubs before placing them on to each letter of a vast 'Fifa' sign atop a podium in the centre of the pitch, leaving no doubt about whom this competition belonged to.

Moroccan-American rapper French Montana produced a hit in the pre-match build-up, there were fireworks aplenty and, to add further razzmatazz, each player was announced on to the pitch individually before kick-off.

Unlike their illustrious opponents, Miami had supposedly qualified through the back door, achieving the place after claiming the Supporters' Shield - coming top of the MLS in the regular season - before being beaten in the play-offs.

Critics feel MLS Cup winners LA Galaxy would have been a better choice on merit, but that would have meant a Club World Cup without Miami and their main man Messi.

The club's co-owner and newly knighted Sir David Beckham was given a rousing ovation from supporters as he entered the stadium and there were even louder cheers as Messi's smiling face flashed up on the big screen.

Although he came close, the little magician could not provide a moment of inspiration for the expectant crowd in attendance.

Miami failed to win potentially their easiest group game and come up against Portuguese side Porto on Thursday.

"Clearly, when we find Leo in positions and get the ball to him in the best way, that's where we have the most options," said Miami manager Javier Mascherano.

"We take it game by game. We know that the level will clearly rise in the next game because they're a European opponent, but we have to stay with the feeling that it's 11 against 11.

"Anything can happen in football."

BBC
 
How do they pick the teams from each league? Why Liverpool and Arsenal not there?
 
Weather causing increasing concern at Club World Cup

Weather concerns continue to shape the Fifa Club World Cup after a fourth game was delayed because of thunderstorms - while a heatwave is expected next week.

The second half of Benfica's Group C game against Auckland City kicked off over two hours late because of heavy rain and storms in Orlando.

The kick-off for Mamelodi Sundowns against Ulsan HD in the same city had been delayed for over an hour.

And there were long pauses in the second halves of Palmeiras v Al-Ahly in New Jersey (40 minutes) and Salzburg v Pachuca in Cincinnati (90 minutes).

Campaign group Fossil Free Football say 10 matches are due to be played in the next week with either a major or extreme heat risk, as temperatures could reach 41C.

This comes just a year out from the World Cup which is being co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

A statement from the world governing body read: "Fifa will continue to monitor the weather conditions in coordination with the venue teams to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone involved."

'The dangers facing players'

Fossil Free Football say: "Particular concern is for the fixtures in the no-shade stadium in Charlotte where a heat index of 38C (Real Madrid v Pachuca) and 41C (Benfica v Bayern) is forecast for the next two matches.

"This underlines the dangers facing players and fans at this tournament and in 2026. Fifa have done very little to allay safety concerns."

The game between New Zealand part-timers Auckland City and Boca Juniors is also due to take place in 41C in Nashville at a ground with limited cover.

Matches in Philadelphia, New York, Cincinnati and Washington DC will also be played in the anticipated heatwave.

After Atletico's 4-0 defeat by Paris St-Germain in 32C in Pasadena, Marcos Llorente said it was "terribly hot" and added "my toes were sore, my nails were hurting... it's incredible".

Fans spoke of having to leave that game because of the heat - and complained about long queues and restrictions of water when arriving at the stadium.

A Fifa statement read: "Fifa's top priority is the health of everyone involved in football, and Fifa's medical experts have been in regular contact with the clubs participating to address heat management and acclimatisation."

The governing body added there will continue to be cooling breaks in the 30th and 75th minute where needed - and that fans are allowed to bring empty clear bottles of up to one litre into stadiums.

Chelsea, who are one of two English teams competing along with Manchester City, beat Los Angeles FC in their opener but then lost 3-1 to Flamengo on Friday.

"It's not easy because of the temperature," said boss Enzo Maresca. "We're going to try to rotate players."

When it rains, it pours

As well as the danger posed by the heat to players, staff and supporters, from a scheduling point of view there will be concerns about the delays to games.

Four of the first 21 games faced waits ranging from 40 minutes to two-and-a-half hours for thunder and lightning storms and heavy rain.

Broadcasters will not be happy with the potential for overlapping matches at the 2026 World Cup.

Benfica v Auckland City was due to conclude an hour before Chelsea's match against Flamengo started - but ended up finishing well after the final whistle had been blown in the Blues' defeat.

"This is the longest game of my career," said Benfica coach Bruno Lage. "A special thanks to our fans, who have been here for five hours supporting the team.

"We played as well as we could. The temperature made it very difficult."

BBC
 
Club World Cup trophy won't make up for last season – Guardiola

Winning the Club World Cup won't make amends for Manchester City's disappointment of last season, says manager Pep Guardiola.

City failed to win a major trophy for the first time in eight years but claimed the Community Shield at the beginning of the campaign.

City finished third in the Premier League, failed to reach the last 16 in the Champions League and were stunned in the FA Cup final by Crystal Palace.

Along with Chelsea, City are one of two English sides currently competing at the revamped Club World Cup in the United States.

They began Group G with victory over Moroccan side Wydad AC and another three points against UAE club Al-Ain in Atlanta on Sunday will seal progression to the last 16.

"I said many times, the season was not good," said Guardiola. "When you finish third in the Premier League to qualify for the Champions League, it means 70 teams were worse than us.

"We played the FA Cup final in an incredibly high level against a really good team. The disappointment was the Champions League, we did not do really good. It was tough to handle it.

"Winning this competition is not going to change that but my mindset at the moment is not about winning the competition. We can extend our time here, being here longer. For the South American teams, the competition may be the maximum. For European teams, it is [just] a World Cup."

Al-Ain manager Vladimir Ivic, formerly of Watford said: "When you play against the best ones, you want to be the best of yourself.

"I am sure my players will give the maximum, trying from the first until the last, to show themselves the best way against the best one. We have to believe in ourselves and my team."

'We want to do our best'

Guardiola won this competition in its previous guise with Barcelona and led City to success by thrashing Fluminese 4-0 in Saudi Arabia two years ago.

Questions have been raised about how seriously European sides rank this tournament, although teams from the continent can collect up to £97m if they go all the way.

Meanwhile, players and supporters from elsewhere such as South America have shown their passion for the tournament, filling stadiums with thousands of fans and adding a distinct colour and atmosphere.

"I was lucky to play as a manager in this competition four times and we won four times," said the Spaniard.

"What would happen in Brazil is they would have a carnival for one week, dancing and celebrating, but it is cultural for the continent and countries.

"Now we are here, I want to do the best, I want to enjoy the moment here because you are here one time every four years and I want to do well and I want to arrive in the latter stages."

Guardiola does not rule out departures

Guardiola has reiterated a need for a smaller squad heading into the new season, having joked at the end of the last campaign he would "quit" unless the playing staff was cut.

City have a 27-man touring party for the Club World Cup; out-of-favour Jack Grealish, Kyle Walker and Kalvin Phillips have been left at home, James McAtee was not selected and Mateo Kovacic is injured.

Meanwhile, German midfielder Ilkay Gundogan has been linked with a move to Turkish champions Galatasaray.

"We have - right now - a long squad, too many players, so we cannot go with 26, 27 players this season because there would be more [not] playing and step by step maybe a few players are going to move. But right now, Ilkay is absolutely part of my mind and the team.

"I would love to have the players that we have now all season. I would love it. I don't have any complaints about the players, how they behave."

He added: "The problem is they will be unhappy during the season. They will be sad, they will be disappointed. I don't want that. For me it's not a problem.

"I have more [players to select] and I don't [want] six, seven players, if no injuries, being at home. So I do it that way. I do that for them.

"So that's why we have to see what happens. We still have a long time, I would say, until the transfer window will be closed."

BBC
 
How it stands in Club World Cup group stage - and who needs what?

The Club World Cup is into its final round of group-stage matches with plenty still to be decided.

There is still something to play for in nearly every group.

The top two sides from each group go into the last 16, with head-to-head records used before goal difference to separate teams level on points.

Manchester City are one of eight clubs to have qualified for the last 16 but could face Real Madrid at that stage.

Chelsea need a point to progress, with Bayern Munich potentially waiting in the next round.

BBC Sport examines how each group looks and who needs what to progress.

Group A

Inter Miami and Palmeiras drew 2-2 in their final group game which secured both teams a place in the knockout stages, while Porto and Al Ahly played out a 4-4 thriller.

Palmeiras topped the group on goal difference, with MLS side Inter runners-up.

Palmeiras will play fellow Brazilian side Botafogo on Saturday at 17:00 BST, while Inter face European champions Paris St-Germain on Sunday at 17:00.

Group B

Paris St-Germain and Botafogo are through to the last 16.

PSG beat Seattle Sounders 2-0 to top Group B, while Botafogo secured second place despite a 1-0 defeat by Atletico Madrid.

As group winners, PSG will face Group A runners-up Inter Miami, and Botafogo will take on group winners Palmeiras.

Atletico and Seattle have been eliminated.

Group C

Auckland City v Boca Juniors, Benfica v Bayern Munich - Tuesday, 24 June (20:00 BST)

Bayern Munich are through and Auckland City are out.

Benfica just only a point to seal their last-16 spot. Boca need Benfica to lose and to win themselves, with a big goal difference swing, to go through.

Group D

ES Tunis v Chelsea, Los Angeles v Flamengo - Wednesday, 25 June (02:00 BST)

Flamengo are into the last 16 as group winners and Los Angeles are out.

Chelsea will go through in second place so long as they do not lose to Esperance Sportive de Tunis. But if the Tunisian side win they will qualify instead.

Enzo Maresca's Chelsea side would meet the winners of Group C - Bayern Munich or Benfica - should they qualify for the last 16.

Group E

Inter Milan v River Plate, Urawa Reds v Monterrey - Thursday, 26 June (02:00 BST)

The winners of Inter Milan v River Plate will go into the last 16, while a draw would be enough for both so long as Monterrey do not win.

If Monterrey win and the other game ends in a draw, there are multiple possibilities depending on the exact scores in both games.

The top three would all finish on five points, so it would come down to goals scored in the games between the three of them - and, if that is level, goal difference in the group, fair play or even drawing lots.

Urawa Reds are out.

Group F

Borussia Dortmund v Ulsan HD, Mamelodi Sundowns v Fluminense - Wednesday, 25 June (20:00 BST)

Fluminense and Borussia Dortmund know a point in their games would take them through.

Mamelodi Sundowns would go through with a win, while Ulsan HD are out.

BBC
 

Established order prevails at Club World Cup as minnows make little impact​


The occasional threat of an upset result at the Club World Cup handed hope to the minnows of the world game but in the end the established order prevailed at the conclusion of the first round of the tournament in the U.S.

All but three of the teams through to the knockout stages are from Europe and South America with the field for the last-16 settled after the last group-stage matches on Thursday.

Among the last to qualify was Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal, but the Riyadh-based side is littered with players expensively purchased from European clubs like the Portugal internationals Ruben Neves and Joao Cancelo, former Chelsea defender Kalidou Koulibaly and ex-Brazil international Malcom.

Also through are Monterrey from Mexico and Inter Miami, where Lionel Messi is the kingpin in a side filled with former Barcelona stalwarts.

But for the rest, it was a disappointing return from clubs from other continents.

Al-Hilal held Real Madrid to a draw in their opening game and won a decisive clash with Pachuca of Mexico on Thursday to advance, but it was one of only two matches won by Asian clubs in the first round out of a total of 12 played.

Africa had similarly disappointing statistics. Its four representatives went home with a combined total of two wins in 12 outings.

“It is a big step up for the players,” said Miguel Cardoso of South Africa champions Mamelodi Sundowns, who collected four points but still finished third in Group F.

“The level of competition is just that little bit higher than what the players are used to,” the coach added.

EXPERIENCES​

“These experiences will stay with us hopefully for the coming games we play,” said Seattle Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer as his side make a quick return to Major League Soccer action at Austin on Saturday after playing Atletico Madrid, Botafogo and European champions Paris St Germain.

“There were a lot of similarities in the style and approach to the game between us and the powerful clubs we played against. But you have to factor in that their players are playing at a much higher level.”

Egypt’s Al Ahly and Tunisia’s Esperance also brought plenty of fans and helped create atmosphere in the large stadiums but went home without achieving their ambition of progressing to the last-16.

“The moment that you drop a little bit your level against this quality of opponents, you pay a price,” added Jose Riveiro, coach of Cairo giants Al Ahly who had a rollicking 4-4 draw with Porto in their last group game.

But he said competing at the Club World Cup was a special experience.

“The players have the opportunity to showcase their talent and a fantastic platform to do it.
“It’s a special occasion for sure something that, well, you don't always have the opportunity to be involved in,” Riveiro said.

Source: https://www.reuters.com/sports/socc...ld-cup-minnows-make-little-impact-2025-06-27/
 
'Not football' - Maresca questions Club World Cup hosts after 'joke' delay

When asked how the one-hour-53-minute stoppage impacted Chelsea's match against Benfica in the Club World Cup, Enzo Maresca's response was: "This is not football."

The manager seemed to question whether the US was a suitable host for Fifa competitions, like the Club World Cup, one year before the 2026 World Cup is hosted across North America.

Chelsea may have defeated Benfica 4-1 to qualify for the quarter-finals, but the match was the sixth to be suspended because of seasonal summer thunderstorms.

A near two-hour delay looked like it might cost Chelsea, who had not conceded a shot on target and went ahead through Reece James's inventive free-kick, a match they looked set to win.

"For 85 minutes we were in control of the game. We didn't concede anything; we created chances enough to win the game. And then after the break the game changed completely," Maresca said while referring to a shift in momentum in which Angel di Maria equalised from the penalty spot.

"For me personally, it's not football. You cannot be inside for two hours. It is something completely new. I can understand that for security reasons, you are to suspend the game. But if you suspend six, seven games that means that probably is not the right place to do this competition."

Players, staff and supporters were immediately pulled indoors because of extreme weather, in this case because thunderstorms were detected within an eight-mile radius of the venue, in line with US safety regulations.

Chelsea regained control in extra time when Benfica youngster Gianluca Prestianni was sent off, allowing Christopher Nkunku, Pedro Neto and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to ensure victory in a match that lasted four hours 38 minute from the opening to final whistle.

When asked to clarify where specifically his anger was aimed, having also described the situation as "a joke", Maresca added: "This is a fantastic competition. The Club World Cup is top; we are happy to be in the last eight.

"It's not normal to suspend a game. In a World Cup, how many games are suspended? Probably zero. In Europe, how many games? Zero."

How Chelsea coped with the stoppage

Chelsea players Marc Cucurella, Levi Colwill and Tosin Adarabioyo were furious when pulled off the pitch - as was Maresca - having been on course to win with only five minutes of normal time remaining.

After re-entering the operations and dressing room area, players took turns to cycle on exercise bikes to keep their muscles warm and did kick-ups to stay fresh at the Bank of America Stadium.

Maresca explained the mood and why it impacted performance, adding: "So two hours inside - people speak with the family outside [to check] if they were good with the security. People eating, laughing, talking on their mobiles. It was two hours. That's why I said it's not football."

James added: "It was quite disruptive when you're in the flow of the game. Lots of substitutions - trying to get warm and stay warm. It was difficult and the climate was very hot and humid."

A senior Chelsea official admitted to confusion and relief around the senior staff after the match.

Is US in the summer suitable?

This was the second longest stoppage of the tournament, with Benfica having had another two-hour stoppage delaying the start of their match against Auckland City.

There have been six similar stoppages in five different cities, including Mamelodi Sundowns against Ulsan HD, which also happened in Orlando, because of heavy rain and storms.

And there were long pauses in the second half of Palmeiras v Al-Ahly in New Jersey (40 minutes), Salzburg v Pachuca in Cincinnati (90 minutes) and Boca Juniors v Auckland City in Nashville (50 minutes).

Chelsea are also one of many teams to fall victim to extreme heat. Maresca said it was "impossible" to conduct a normal training session at their previous base in Philadelphia.

Some of the best stadiums in the US and Canada have roofs, like Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium, but many do not.

Atlanta is the only ground selected with such a covered roof in the Club World Cup but further stadiums in Vancouver, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles and Toronto are covered for next summer's World Cup.

However, that tournament has been expanded to 48 teams, meaning these events will likely happen next summer.

Possible solutions could include moving the World Cup to winter months, as Qatar did in 2022, but severe cold is also an issue in parts of the US and Canada.

Head of Fifa's technical study group Arsene Wenger addressed stoppages from its base in Miami.

He said: "It's not ideal, I agree, because you want the flow of the game from the first to the last minute but, as well, when you organise a competition you have [to put] security first."

Fifa also issued a statement at the time of the incident which read: "Due to adverse weather conditions in Charlotte, including the risk of lightning in the vicinity of Bank of America Stadium, the Fifa Club World Cup match between SL Benfica and Chelsea FC has been suspended. Fifa will follow the established safety protocols, and the match will resume as soon as it's safe to do so."

Fifa was asked for a response to Maresca's comments.

BBC
 

Al Hilal beat Manchester City 4-3 to enter Club World Cup quarterfinals​


Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal have sent English giants Manchester City crashing out of the Club World Cup, snatching a shock 4-3 victory in extra time in the biggest upset of the tournament so far.

The match finished 2-2 at full-time on Monday, but at the end of an eventful extra-time, Marcos Leonardo grabbed the winner and pulled off one of the greatest wins in Middle Eastern football history.

The Saudi club now advance to the quarterfinals, where they will face Brazilian club Fluminense, ensuring a non-European team will reach the last four.

Man City had taken the lead in the ninth minute in controversial fashion, with Bernardo Silva finishing after Rayan Ait-Nouri’s cross.

Al Hilal players protested that Ait-Nouri had controlled with his arm in the build-up, but the goal stood.

Man City had plenty of opportunities to extend their lead before the break, but a combination of poor finishing and inspired goalkeeping from Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou kept the lead at a single goal.

Al Hilal offered several reminders of their threat on the break but Man City had even more chances, with Jeremy Doku volleying straight at Bounou, who moments later reacted superbly again to keep out a Bernardo effort.

The question as to whether Man City would live to regret not converting those chances was answered within a minute of the resumption.

Former City full-back Joao Cancelo’s low cross was parried out by Ederson. Malcolm pounced but saw his shot blocked by Ruben Dias, only for the ball to loop to Marcos Leonardo to head home the equaliser.

Six minutes later, and City’s high defensive line was exposed by a long ball from Cancelo, which Brazilian Malcolm raced onto, showing power and pace as he broke away before coolly slotting past Ederson.

The Al Hilal defence were unable to deal with a Bernardo corner and Haaland pounced to steer home the loose ball and make it 2-2.

City piled on the pressure as they looked for the winner but yet again Bounou proved their nemesis as he denied Akanji and Ruben Dias, and even when he was beaten by Haaland, substitute Ali Lajami produced a magnificent goal-line clearance.

Guardiola took off Haaland and introduced Egyptian forward Omar Marmoush as the game went into extra time.

But for all City’s depth, Al Hilal had a deep well of spirit to draw upon. Just four minutes into the opening period, Al Hilal regained the lead when Kalidou Koulibaly rose superbly to meet a Ruben Neves corner with a brilliantly angled header.

City responded with a goal of real quality when Rayan Cherki’s brilliantly floated ball towards the back post was poked home masterfully by Phil Foden, at full stretch and from the tightest of angles.

But incredibly, Al Hilal responded again to restore their lead: Sergej Milinkovic-Savic’s header was saved by Ederson but Marcos Leonardo followed in to bundle the ball over the line.

As the celebrating Al Hilal fans poured out of the stadium, the Brazilian striker let his emotions pour out, too.

“I’ve had a difficult time in the last two months. My mother spent 70 days in the ICU,” he said.

“Today, she’s fine, thank God. When I scored those two goals, I thought of her. She was able to watch the match.”

City skipper Bernardo Silva said his team had paid the price for being unable to deal with Al Hilal’s counter-attacking.

“We scored three and could’ve scored five, six. It was all about controlling when we lost the ball, controlling the transitions, don’t let them run, and they ran way too many times,” he said.

“With one, two passes, there was always a feeling of danger coming from them. When we allow teams to run like this, we always suffer a lot, and today was the case,” he said.

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/20...ity-4-3-to-enter-club-world-cup-quarterfinals
 
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So Real Madrid vs Chelsea coming??? Or PSG has a chance to topple RM.

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Chelsea reached the final of the Club World Cup as two goals from new signing Joao Pedro helped sink Brazilian side Fluminense.

The 23-year-old, making his full debut against his boyhood club, curled home his first goal in the 18th minute after former Blues defender Thiago Silva failed to clear Pedro Neto's cross.

His second, a powerful shot which went in off the bar in the 56th minute, sealed victory.

The win ensures Chelsea add £22m to the £60m already earned at the competition, with Joao Pedro quickly helping to repay some of the £55m paid to sign him from Brighton last week.

Christopher Nkunku had multiple chances to add to the scoreline while at the other end, Marc Cucurella cleared Hercules shot off the line and substitute Everaldo had a shot saved.

The Rio-based club may be aggrieved to have seen referee Francois Letexier overturn his own decision to give a first-half penalty for a handball by Trevoh Chalobah after a VAR intervention.

However, Chelsea always looked likely to progress once they opened the scoring in a mostly-full MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, which sweltered in 35C heat.

The only blot on Chelsea's night was a potential injury to midfielder Moises Caicedo, who appeared to injure his ankle in the 93rd minute and walked off the pitch before the match finished.

The Blues will face either Real Madrid or Paris Saint-Germain in Sunday's final at the same venue (20:00 BST).
 
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Paris St-Germain demolished Real Madrid to set up a Fifa Club World Cup final against Chelsea on Sunday.

This semi-final tie at the MetLife Stadium was over as a contest within 24 minutes as the Champions League winners tore the Spanish side apart.

Fabian Ruiz tapped in the sixth-minute opener following a big mistake from Real defender Raul Asencio - after the referee let play continue following Thibaut Courtois' foul on Ousmane Dembele.

French winger Dembele raced away three minutes later to finish calmly after a mis-kick from Antonio Rudiger.

Ruiz then slotted home the third after a fantastic give-and-go between Achraf Hakimi and Dembele.

Real, who were missing the injured Trent Alexander-Arnold, offered little in response and Goncalo Ramos added a late fourth for PSG to cap a dominant display.
 
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Cole Palmer inspired a stunning Chelsea performance as they downed European champions Paris St-Germain to win the first edition of the newly expanded Club World Cup.

The England attacking midfielder scored twice and set up a brilliant third goal for new signing Joao Pedro in a comprehensive 3-0 win over in-form PSG at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

Palmer, 23, placed a low shot past goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma in the 22nd minute after Malo Gusto ran in behind Nuno Mendes, adding a second with an identical shot from the edge of the box just eight minutes later.

Palmer's defence-splitting pass allowed Joao Pedro to lob Donnarumma just before half-time to stun a team branded "the best in the world" by Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca before kick-off.

In the second half Khvicha Kvaratskhelia immediately tested Blues goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, but his close-range save minutes later from Ousmane Dembele was even more impressive.

Substitute Liam Delap also had a good shot saved as PSG were left with too much of a mountain to climb after early misses by Joao Neves and Desire Doue when the scores were level in the first half.

The game was all but over on 85 minutes when matters got worse for the Parisians, as midfielder Joao Neves was sent off after a brief VAR check for pulling defender Marc Cucurella's hair.

Among the 81,118 people in attendance was US President Donald Trump, who sat alongside Fifa president Gianni Infantino as Chelsea took their earnings to about £90m for participating in and winning the tournament.
 
Who profited most from Club World Cup $1bn prize pot?

The Club World Cup has had its critics but for the clubs involved the competition's $1bn prize pot has proved a lucrative incentive.

With the first edition of the new-look tournament now complete, we are able to analyse the financial rewards reaped by those competing clubs.

BBC Sport explains the breakdown of the prize money and what it means for the clubs getting it.

The new look competition had a prize pot of $1bn (£726m) to give out to the 32 competing clubs, with $525m divided between all clubs for participation and $475m awarded on a performance-related basis.

Money awarded for participation for European clubs was weighted by a ranking based on sporting and commercial criteria, meaning some were awarded more than others for taking part.

European clubs were handed between $12.81m and $38.19m just for turning up, while teams from other continents were given a set fee - that was $15.21m for South America, $9.55m for North and Central America, and Asia and Africa, and $3.58m for Oceania.

Fifa has not confirmed the individual amounts given to European clubs for taking part, so we have used estimates from football finance website The Swiss Ramble based on Uefa's club coefficient system.

The prize money figures have been converted from US dollars into pound sterling.


www.bbc.com

Club World Cup prize money: Who won the most?

With a $1bn prize pot the Club World Cup has proved lucrative for those involved, but which club has profited the most?
www.bbc.com www.bbc.com
 
Club World Cup doesn't seem as appealing as main World Cup or even Euro/COPA. :inti

It is a pointless tournament like Asia Cup.
 
To beat this PSG team in a major final 3-0 was an incredible achievement. Palmer is a phenomenal player, showed his level against world class players in the opposition team. Congrats to them.
 
sweep_shot said:
Club World Cup doesn't seem as appealing as main World Cup or even Euro/COPA. :inti

It is a pointless tournament like Asia Cup.
Click to expand...
The winner receives a substantial cash prize, but for the players, this must be very exhausting after a long season. With league starts in many countries just about 4-5 weeks away, they won't get much rest before they have to prepare for the new season.

Seems like Chelsea will fight for Top 3 position in PL in upcoming season.
 
IAJ said:
The winner receives a substantial cash prize, but for the players, this must be very exhausting after a long season. With league starts in many countries just about 4-5 weeks away, they won't get much rest before they have to prepare for the new season.

Seems like Chelsea will fight for Top 3 position in PL in upcoming season.
Click to expand...

This Chelsea team looks good now. They got rid of Madueke to Arsenal who is one of their worst attackers.

Chelsea may finish higher than Arsenal next season? @Mamoon
 
KingKhanWC said:
This Chelsea team looks good now. They got rid of Madueke to Arsenal who is one of their worst attackers.

Chelsea may finish higher than Arsenal next season? @Mamoon
Click to expand...
That’s laughable. Chelsea have not improved their squad one bit while Arsenal have signed two elite players.

The gap between Arsenal and Chelsea has only increased.
 
Mamoon said:
That’s laughable. Chelsea have not improved their squad one bit while Arsenal have signed two elite players.

The gap between Arsenal and Chelsea has only increased.
Click to expand...

There are various factors. The team can improve by the manager. Pedro is a great signing for them. To crush PSG to win a final is special, silly to deny this.

Arsenal should finish higher but if Chelsea finish higher, humiliation for Arteta. Dont underestimate this team now, they could be up there in April
 
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