Chelsea advanced to the final of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup after a dramatic 3-2 victory over Fluminense at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, United States[4]. The tightly contested semifinal featured Chelsea overcoming a resilient Fluminense side, who were led by veteran defender Thiago Silva and had earlier eliminated Inter Milan and Al Hilal in their impressive tournament run[1].
This match marked the first-ever meeting between Chelsea and Fluminense[2]. The Blues had already faced two other Brazilian teams in the tournament, losing to Flamengo in the group stage but defeating Palmeiras in the quarter-finals[2]. Chelsea’s progress through the competition has not always been convincing, but they have consistently found ways to win key matches, including this semifinal where they again showed their determination to secure the trophy[1].
With Liam Delap and Levi Colwill both suspended, Nicolas Jackson or new signing João Pedro were expected to lead Chelsea’s attack, with further rotation likely in the lineup due to player availability[5]. Pedro Neto and Cole Palmer have been standout performers for Chelsea during this Club World Cup campaign, while Fluminense’s Hércules and Jhon Arias delivered key contributions for the Brazilian side[3].
With this win, Chelsea book their place in the final, set to face the winner of Paris Saint-Germain vs. Real Madrid, continuing their quest for another global title and a slice of the competition’s unprecedented $1 billion prize pool[3].
References
- [1] Fluminense vs. Chelsea: Club World Cup Semifinal Preview …
- [2] Key facts and statistics ahead of Chelsea vs Fluminense | News
- [3] Fluminense vs. Chelsea: How to watch, stream Club World Cup …
- [4] Chelsea vs Fluminense 3-2 – All Goals & Highlights – 2025 – YouTube
- [5] Chelsea XI vs Fluminense: Predicted lineup and confirmed team news