🔊 Friends, would you prefer the Club World Cup final to be an all-European affair or truly international? At the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, we're set for a thrilling semifinal clash: Fluminense, who have pleasantly surprised passionate fans, will attempt another miracle by defeating Chelsea in their quest to reach the final. Awaiting them will be the winner of the PSG vs. Real Madrid matchup. Can 40-year-old Thiago Silva, the captain of Fluminense, knock out his former team? You can find our editorial's prediction below—we've also gathered the latest updates from both clubs' camps for you.

Head-to-Head

📊 The upcoming semifinal clash between Fluminense and Chelsea marks the first-ever head-to-head encounter between these teams in history.

Fluminense Team Overview

🔴 "Big Flu" continues to win over neutral football fans. Following a commendable group stage performance, the team led by Renato Gaúcho defeated last season's Champions League finalists, Inter Milan, in the Round of 16. They then faced off against Al-Hilal, the reigning champions of the Saudi Arabian league, boasting a lineup filled with world-class stars.

🟢 Yet, as the "Tricolors" have proven time and again, such formidable opponents don't intimidate them. In the 40th minute, Matheus Martinelli scored a stunning goal into the top corner following an excellent ball control in the opponent's penalty area. Early in the second half, the Saudis managed to level the score from a set piece. However, the conceded goal did not break the Brazilians' spirit. In the 70th minute, substitute Hércules once again proved his status as the team's super-sub: he first dispossessed an Al-Hilal forward and then coolly finished off a counterattack, slotting the ball into the far corner in a one-on-one situation. This decisive goal secured Flu's place in the semifinals.

⚪ It's worth highlighting not only the team's attacking prowess but also their solid defensive play. At the heart of their defense is 40-year-old Thiago Silva, while 44-year-old Fábio shines in goal, making three crucial saves against Al-Hilal and rightfully earning recognition as one of the tournament's top goalkeepers.

Chelsea Team Overview

🔵 Enzo Maresca's team has been performing admirably in the tournament, despite suffering a single group stage defeat to Flamengo. In the Round of 16, Chelsea overcame Benfica, and in the quarterfinals, they faced Palmeiras, who left a positive impression throughout the competition.

⚪ However, Chelsea quickly seized control of the game. Cole Palmer was particularly active, creating danger for the opposition from the very first minutes. By the 16th minute, he capitalized on his opportunity and, with exquisite technique, ended his long goal drought. The Blues went into halftime leading 1-0. In the second half, Chelsea lost their grip on the match, allowing Palmeiras to equalize. The goal came from Estevão—who is soon set to join the London club. His strike was remarkable: the ball hit the woodwork twice before finding the net.

✅ It seemed the game was heading for extra time, but late in the match, after a corner and a cross into the box, the ball deflected off a player, wrong-footing the Palmeiras goalkeeper—putting Chelsea back in front. They held onto their lead and secured a 2-1 victory, eliminating Palmeiras from the tournament. Chelsea's next opponent will be Fluminense—the third Brazilian team they will face in this championship.

Latest news

Fluminense

🎙️ "I knew the match would be incredibly tough—intense and heated. I prepared my team just like we did against Inter. We controlled the game, then conceded a goal, but the players' attitude and commitment allowed us to advance," said head coach Renato Gaúcho after the quarter-final.

🎤 Former Chelsea player Thiago Silva, following the success of the "tricolors" in the quarter-final: "I'm very happy and proud of the team. It's not easy to compete in this tournament and make it to the semi-finals. I never imagined this moment, but I'm thrilled for the team, myself, and my performance. We stayed united throughout."

🔝 Brazilian club midfielder Hercules was named Man of the Match against Al-Hilal. He scored the winning goal and delivered an outstanding and confident performance after coming off the bench.

❌ Fluminense face personnel challenges ahead of the semi-final. Due to injuries, midfielders Isaque Silva and Otávio, along with forward Riquelme Felipe, will be unavailable. Additionally, defender Juan Pablo Freytes and midfielder Matheus Martinelli will miss the match due to yellow card suspensions.

Chelsea

🎙️ Enzo Maresca after the match against Palmeiras: “It was a tough game, just as we expected. We needed a lot of energy because we're at the end of our season, while they're at the beginning. That's the difference, but I want to congratulate the players; they were excellent. We're delighted with the win and Estevao's goal—an ideal night for Chelsea.”

💶 Following Palmeiras' exit from the Club World Cup, Estevao will officially join Chelsea for 34 million euros. The London club also confirmed the signing of Jamie Bynoe-Gittens from Borussia Dortmund for a transfer fee of 55 million euros.

📝 Chelsea are buzzing with activity in the transfer market. The Blues' winger Noni Madueke has agreed on personal terms with Arsenal, and the clubs are preparing to start official negotiations over his move. Meanwhile, Chelsea are showing interest in Arsenal's young winger Ethan Nwaneri—a potential deal that is being considered separately and is not directly linked to Madueke's departure. Additionally, Todd Boehly's club is reportedly interested in West Ham winger Mohammed Kudus.

👨‍⚖️ Meanwhile, UEFA has fined Chelsea 26 million pounds for breaching financial fair play regulations in the 2023/24 season. If further violations occur within the next four years, the club faces an additional fine of 51 million pounds. Separately, another fine of 11 million euros was imposed for failing to meet UEFA's squad valuation requirements.

❌ Chelsea are also dealing with some injury setbacks. Three defenders remain sidelined: Benoit Badiashile, Wesley Fofana, and Reece James. Defensive midfielder Romeo Lavia is also injured. In the semifinals, the team will miss defender Levi Colwill and forward Liam Delap, who are both suspended due to yellow card accumulation.

🟨 Referee and Yellow Cards

🟨 Referee and Yellow Cards

In their previous quarter-final matches, players from both clubs received three yellow cards each. Over their last five games in the Club World Cup, Fluminense's average individual yellow card total stands at 2.6, while Chelsea's is exactly 2.

Looking at the overall number of yellow cards in matches involving these teams, Fluminense averages 4.6 cards per game, and Chelsea averages 4.8. This indicates a high likelihood of disciplinary action from the referee.

Considering the semi-final status, South American passion, and the aggressive play style of the Londoners, we can expect an intense match filled with duels. It's likely Fluminense will be on the defensive more often, while Chelsea's midfield and attack will aim to increase the tempo. In response, the Brazilian side might look to counter-attack swiftly, forcing the Londoners to commit fouls to disrupt their quick breaks. Taking all factors into account, we recommend a bet on total yellow cards over 4 as a well-founded scenario for the match.

⚽ Goal Prediction

Despite Chelsea being considered favorites and one of the main contenders for the title, we don't foresee a large-margin victory for the Londoners. Fluminense has proven their defensive capabilities, keeping clean sheets in three of their five tournament matches. Chelsea secured a confident win against Benfica with a three-goal difference, but it wasn't in regular time. Against Palmeiras, the Blues managed only a narrow victory, clinching it in the closing stages.

The organized defense of Fluminense, led by Thiago Silva, and the reliable Fabio in goal inspire confidence. This suggests that a bet on Fluminense to win with a +1.5 handicap appears to be quite reasonable.

🚩 Corner Prediction

Matches involving both teams tend to feature a significant number of corners. Fluminense's average total corners per game is 10.8, while Chelsea's is 9.4.

Individually, Chelsea holds a slight advantage: Fluminense averages 5.2 corners per game, whereas Chelsea averages 6.8.

As favorites, Chelsea are likely to play on the front foot, control possession, and attack more frequently, which typically results in more set-piece opportunities near the opponent's goal. Based on this data, we suggest considering a bet on Chelsea to win on corner kicks.

The objective for both clubs is clear—reaching the final of the Club World Cup. However, one team has a significant edge over the other: the Blues boast a deep squad, while the Tricolors lack similar financial resources. Crucially, Chelsea's lineup is considerably younger than Fluminense's, with Thiago Silva and Fabio alone accounting for a combined age of 68 years. Will they have the strength and focus to withstand Chelsea's fast and youthful attack?

We wouldn't be surprised if "Big Flu" once again dazzles the football world with their performance, so we're suggesting a bet on over 2 goals in the match. Chelsea's last five Club World Cup games have all featured at least two goals. A potential final score could be a 2-1 victory for the Blues.