And then there were four. Nothing is guaranteed while upsets abound, and the FIFA Club World Cup is no exception. We’ve seen giants fall through the group stage and into the knockout round, but with three games left, there’s no more room for error. Here’s everything you need to know about the two FIFA Club World Cup Semifinals and what’s in store for the finalists and eventual champions.
Fluminense vs Chelsea - July 8
The tournament’s lone non-European club advanced from the group stage as runners-up behind Borussia Dortmund, but is now flying with two consecutive impressive wins over Inter Milan and Al-Hilal.
Led by their talismanic veteran Thiago Silva in defense, Fluminense has conceded just three goals in five games so far, with just one of those coming in the knockout round. Elite defending is essential for cup competitions, and Fluminense’s steadfast brand of soccer forces opponents into compromising situations, limiting their meaningful opportunities to score.
On offense, the Brazilian side affords itself time to let attacks develop. The players wait and hold the ball, as their rapid midfielders and forwards twist and turn, creating space in attack. Through intricate and methodical passing play, they often create dangerous chances, allowing the likes of Germán Cano, Hércules, and Martinelli to capitalize and punish their opponents.
Their reward is a date with London-based Premier League side Chelsea, who also advanced from the group stage as runners-up. This will be the Blues’ third match against Brazilian opposition, after falling 3-1 to Flamengo in Group D and taking down Palmeiras 2-1 in the quarterfinals.
The tournament has been a bit of a mixed bag for Chelsea thus far, with several close calls and more than a few dubious performances, but they’ve made it this far, and two more wins would erase all of that doubt.
In their five games, Enzo Maresca’s side has scored 12 goals and conceded five, with three coming in the loss to Flamengo on matchday two. They’re led up top by a rotating list of Pedro Neto, Liam Delap, Christopher Nkunku, and, of course, Cole Palmer. That attacking unit has combined to score six, or half of the team’s entire output so far.
These two sides will likely adopt a more conservative style of play, which has the potential to play into Fluminense’s hands well, but Chelsea enjoys playing quickly in transition, which could open the game up a bit more than the Brazilian side would like. To be successful, they’ll need to be extremely clinical to find the net against Thiago Silva and co.
For Fluminense, their use of midfielders in attack will be crucial as they arrive late in the buildup and find pockets of space to exploit. They may feel a need to keep numbers back as Chelsea leans into that helter-skelter transition, which could affect their offensive production, but in possession, they’ll look to create against a defense that does not have the best record.
Real Madrid vs PSG - July 9
Two giants of European soccer will clash in New Jersey as newly crowned Champions League winners PSG continue their barrage on the world’s best.
The French champions advanced atop an extremely tight Group B thanks to better tiebreakers, sending Atlético Madrid packing while Botofogo progressed as runners-up. The Brazilian side dealt PSG a pretty hefty wake-up call with a 1-0 win over the Parisians at the Rose Bowl on matchday two. Since then, PSG has won three games, scored eight goals, and conceded zero.
Their familiar and famous front three of Désiré Doué, Ousmane Dembélé, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia continue to torment opponents, with each of the three already finding the net. Additionally, Achraf Hakimi is proving his worth on both sides of the ball with impeccable defensive performances alongside a pair of goals and an assist.
Their opponents are Real Madrid, 15-time Champions League winners and five-time Club World Cup Champions. Their pedigree speaks for itself, and so far, their play on the field has, too.
Since drawing 1-1 with Al-Hilal on the opening matchday, Los Blancos have scored ten goals and conceded just three en route to the semifinals. After topping Group H, they overcame a gritty Juventus team with a 1-0 win and booked a meeting with Borussia Dortmund in the next round. They saw out a late charge from Dortmund to win 3-2, but their tie with PSG will no doubt be their toughest yet.
Led by new head coach Xabi Alonso, Real has found form and, crucially, confidence as the tournament has progressed. While many fans expected the likes of Vinícius Jr, Kylian Mbappé, and Jude Bellingham to lead the lines in attack, 21-year-old Gonzalo García has stolen the show, leading the tournament with four goals.
This new-look side could pose a threat to PSG’s stranglehold on the game, but the key to this game will be in defense. Both sides thrive in possession, but PSG’s defense has been top-notch so far. Goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma boasts the highest save percentage in the tournament with a whopping 92.3%. As long as he’s in goal, PSG will always have a good chance to advance.
For Madrid, they’ll need to dominate in midfield and take advantage of transitional opportunities. They have the talent to create and convert dangerous chances, but they need to be clinical, especially if those moments are few and far between.
