Club World Cup Down to Four After Dramatic Quarters

Club World Cup quarterfinals delivered every emotion a global tournament should offer—late winners, tactical duels, controversy and no shortage of star power—whittling 32 hopefuls down to Chelsea, Fluminense, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid.

Club World Cup Semi-Finals Preview

Few events in world football can rival a semi-final double-header featuring Kylian Mbappé on one side of the bracket and Thiago Silva on the other. Real Madrid versus PSG feels worthy of a Champions League final, while Chelsea’s clash with Fluminense pits Premier League wealth against South American flair.

Quarterfinal Recap: Drama Everywhere You Look

Real Madrid booked their ticket first, digging deep to edge Al-Ahly 3-2 in a Riyadh furnace. Vinícius Júnior’s solo effort and Jude Bellingham’s stoppage-time header masked a ropey defensive outing that left Carlo Ancelotti visibly fuming.
PSG followed suit, weathering a frenzied second-half comeback from Monterrey before a 90th-minute Lionel Messi free-kick—yes, he still bends them in Paris—secured a 2-1 triumph.
Chelsea’s route was more straightforward on the scoreboard but no less intense on the grass. A 2-0 win over Urawa Red Diamonds owed everything to Conor Gallagher’s midfield graft and Nicolas Jackson’s clinical finishing.
Perhaps the biggest surprise was Fluminense’s 3-1 dismissal of Bayern Munich. Fernando Diniz’s “jogo apoiado” approach suffocated the Bavarians, and João Kennedy’s brace ensured Brazilian representation in the last four.

Key Battles to Watch

1. Bellingham vs. Vitinha: Madrid’s midfield prodigy meets PSG’s metronome in a duel that could dictate tempo.
2. Mbappé vs. Carvajal: The Frenchman’s blistering pace against a veteran right-back short on it.
3. Silva vs. Germán Cano: Old teammates turned opponents; experience against scorching Libertadores form.
4. Mudryk vs. Marcelo: A sprint duel on the flank that might give fitness coaches nightmares.

Heat, Pitches and Crowds: Persistent Concerns

While football quality has often sparkled, the Club World Cup continues to grapple with sweltering conditions, uneven turf and half-empty stands. Al-Ahly’s boss Marcel Koller likened the playing surface in Jeddah to “a bouncy castle,” and UEFA delegates privately worry about player welfare ahead of the 2025 edition in the U.S.

Tactical Trends Emerging

High Defensive Lines Are Risky Business

Real and PSG both flirted with danger by pushing centre-backs to midfield. Expect a tweak, especially with Mbappé poised to exploit space behind Madrid’s back four.

Midfield Hybrids Reign Supreme

Bellingham and Enzo Fernández are redefining what a “No. 8” looks like—part destroyer, part creator, relentless runner. Their versatility has been the tournament’s tactical hallmark.

Players Grabbing Headlines

• Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid): Two goals and infectious swagger.
• João Kennedy (Fluminense): From bench option to breakout star with four goals.
• Nicolas Jackson (Chelsea): Often criticised, now decisive.
• Achraf Hakimi (PSG): Providing width and end product when the forwards drift centrally.

What the Semi-Finals Mean for Each Club

Chelsea view the Club World Cup as a springboard for a domestic resurgence. Mauricio Pochettino, ironically facing two former employers if Chelsea reach the final, knows silverware would buy time for his young squad.
Fluminense, meanwhile, carry CONMEBOL’s pride. An upset over Chelsea would set up a potential all-South American final for the first time since 2012.
PSG chase legitimacy beyond Ligue 1 dominance, and eliminating 14-time European champions Madrid would be a statement.
Real Madrid simply pursue every trophy, every year—it’s embedded in their DNA.

Prediction and Short Opinion

Real Madrid’s big-game nous edges PSG 2-1, while Chelsea discover their cutting edge too late as Fluminense spring another shock, winning 3-2. A Madrid-Flu final would blend European efficiency with Brazilian artistry—exactly the variety this expanded Club World Cup promised.
Opinion: The tournament still needs cooler venues and fuller stadiums, but when the football clicks—as it did in these quarters—the Club World Cup proves it can be more than just a lucrative preseason diversion.