Top Surprising Performances In Club World Cup 2025 So Far
The ongoing FIFA Club World Cup has entered the Round of 16 stage. The group stage is over while the next round will be starting on Saturday. Palmeiras, Botafogo, Benfica, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Miami CF, Flamengo, Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, Fluminense, Manchester City, Al-Hilal, Real Madrid, Juventus, Borussia Dortmund and Monterrey are the teams that have qualified for the knockout round.
The tournament has been expanded to 32 teams, divided into 8 groups of 4. The top two teams from each group have advanced to the knockout stage. Before the Round of 16 begins, let's have a look at the top surprising performances in Club World Cup 2025 -
Flamengo Beating Chelsea 3-1
Flamengo produced a brilliant second-half fightback to beat Chelsea 3-1 at the Club World Cup as the Brazilian giants became the first team to qualify for the last 16 at FIFA's lucrative new tournament.
Botafogo beating PSG 1-0
Benfica beating Bayern 1-0
Benfica beat Bayern Munich 1-0 at the Club World Cup to progress to the last 16 as group winners.
Real Madrid 1-1 Al Hilal
Xabi Alonso 's debut at the Club World Cup.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
40 minutes ago
- The Hindu
What the Club World Cup tells us about revival of Brazilian League football
The ongoing Club World Cup feels like FIFA's boldest attempt yet to entrench association football in the American sporting imagination — at a moment when the country is gearing up to co-host the men's World Cup next year. From NBA-style player introductions to referee earpiece cameras to teams visiting the White House, the Club World Cup has leaned heavily into American broadcast spectacle. Once an afterthought in the football calendar, the tournament is now a global shop window — designed, in part, to capitalise on the U.S.'s growing appetite for elite European clubs. But by the end of the group stage, it's not the usual European powerhouses turning heads. Instead, clubs from another footballing superpower have stolen the spotlight. Fluminense, Botafogo, Palmeiras, and Flamengo — all from Brazil's Serie A — have qualified for the knockout rounds with unblemished records. And they haven't coasted through on the back of easy fixtures. Flamengo overturned a one-goal deficit to beat Chelsea 3-1. Botafogo stunned UEFA Champions League (UCL) winner PSG with a clinical 1-0 win. Fluminense and Palmeiras earned valuable draws against Borussia Dortmund and FC Porto, respectively — teams seasoned in UCL battles. The road ahead is steep. Flamengo faces Bayern Munich, while Fluminense takes on Inter Milan in the round of 16. But the Brazilian league will have at least one representative in the quarterfinal after Palmeiras was pitted against Botafogo. Have Brazilian clubs always been this strong? Has the football world, focused on European teams, overlooked South America? Brazilian participation in a global club tournament goes back a long way. Vasco da Gama was the first winner of the Tournoi de Paris — the inaugural event that brought together European and South American clubs — in 1957. Santos, home to Brazilian icons like Pele, Zito and Gilmar, won the third and fourth editions of the Intercontinental Cup in 1962 and 1963. The FIFA Club World Cup – comprising eight teams – began in 2000, with Corinthians, Sao Paulo and Internacional winning the first three titles. But since Corinthians' famous victory over Chelsea in the 2012 edition in Japan, no club from the country has tasted success. Corinthians captain and defender Alessandro (front C) raises the winning trophy with his teammates during the awarding ceremony of the 2012 Club World Cup football in Yokohama on December 16, 2012. Copa Libertadores Champion Corinthians beat English premier league team Chelsea FC 1-0 to get the title. AFP PHOTO / TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA | Photo Credit: TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA This lull coincided with a period of stagnation for the Campeonato Brasileiro. The league became a factory line, churning out young Brazilians for Europe while relying on ageing stars returning from their stints abroad. However, over the past six years, increased investment in the domestic league has allowed clubs to attract talent from across South America. It is no surprise, then, that each of the last six Copa Libertadores titles has been won by a Brazilian club. According to Opta's 2024 Power Rankings for global football leagues, the Brazilian Serie A is ranked sixth — the highest for any league outside Europe. Even the four Brazilian teams that have qualified for the knockout stage of the Club World Cup are packed with international players from neighbouring countries. The Uruguayan trio of Matias Vina, Guillermo Varela and Giorgian De Arrascaeta are key components in Flamengo's setup, with the club currently occupying top spot in the Brazilian league. Colombia's Jhon Arias has lit up the right flank for Fluminense, while his compatriot Richard Rios has been a lynchpin in midfield for Palmeiras. Added to this is the brilliance of local talent making full use of the platform the Club World Cup provides — a chance to catch the eye of scouts and take the next step towards a European move. Palmeiras' Estevao Willian, already bound for Premier League giant Chelsea, has impressed with performances that have made the football world sit up and take notice. Botafogo striker Igor Jesus, who scored twice in the group stage, is now reportedly close to a transfer to Nottingham Forest. Estevao of Palmeiras makes run along the flanks in a FIFA Club World Cup group stage match in the United States. | Photo Credit: Getty Images via AFP Another factor in the resurgence of Brazilian clubs has been the influx of fresh coaching ideas from Europe. Portuguese managers Abel Ferreira and Renato Paiva are now in charge at Palmeiras and Botafogo, respectively. Ferreira brought experience from stints in Portugal and Greece, while Paiva had managerial roles in Argentina and Mexico after overseeing Benfica's youth teams. At Flamengo, former Brazil international Filipe Luis — who spent the bulk of his playing career in Europe under top-level coaches like Diego Simeone and Jose Mourinho — has brought in Spaniard Ivan Palanco to his backroom staff. Palanco previously served as an assistant to Miguel Angel Lotina, who coached Luis at Deportivo La Coruna. The strong showings by Brazilian clubs at this edition of the Club World Cup do, however, come with caveats. European sides are participating after a gruelling 2024–25 season, whereas Brazilian teams are arguably at peak fitness, with their domestic campaign having kicked off in March. Another critical factor is climate. Brazilian clubs are far more acclimatised to the heat and humidity of the North American summer. Borussia Dortmund, for example, faced Ulsan in Cincinnati amid temperatures exceeding 90°F (32.2°C) during an afternoon kick-off — conditions unfamiliar to most European teams. RELATED: Scorching heat sparks revised schedule appeals at FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca noted that the weather in Philadelphia was not conducive to holding regular training sessions. Manchester City fielded two different starting XIs in its first two matches. 'We will play new players in the next game too, and in the second half. The selection has that in mind. 'In these conditions, we are not ready to play 90 minutes, and at half-time we will make substitutions,' manager Pep Guardiola told reporters ahead of the match against Juventus. Despite the rise of Brazilian clubs, that domestic strength has not translated into recent success for the Selecao. Brazil struggled through the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, drawing four and losing five matches. Now under the guidance of legendary manager Carlo Ancelotti, the five-time world champion will hope the Italian — with his unparalleled Champions League pedigree — can unlock the full potential of Brazil's young, talented crop and end its 24-year wait for another global title. List of results of Brazilian teams in group stage: Palmeiras 0 - 0 Porto Botafogo 2 - 1 Seattle Sounders Flamengo 2 - 0 Esperance Fluminense 0 - 0 Borussia Dortmund Palmeiras 2 - 0 Al Ahly SC PSG 0 - 1 Botafogo Flamengo 3 - 1 Chelsea Fluminense 4 - 2 Ulsan HD Atletico Madrid 1 - 0 Botafogo Inter Miami 2 - 2 Palmeiras LAFC 1 - 1 Flamengo Mamelodi Sundowns 0 - 0 Fluminense
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
an hour ago
- First Post
'Al Nassr forever': Cristiano Ronaldo set to earn more than half-a-million dollars a day after signing two-year extension with club
After shutting down discussions on parting ways with the club and joining one of the teams playing in the FIFA Club World Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo has decided to extend his stay at Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Nassr by another two years. Here's more on his contract extension. read more Cristiano Ronaldo has decided to continue with Al-Nassr, the Saudi Pro League club he had signed with as a free agent in January 2023. Image credit: Al Nassr FC There had been a lot of speculation over Cristiano Ronaldo's future at Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr, especially due to the lack of trophies since he joined the club as a free agent in January 2023. Ronaldo had himself thrown hints at parting with Al-Nassr after they failed to qualify for the Club World Cup, a tournament FIFA president Gianni Infantino hoped he would be part of alongside long-time arch-rival Lionel Messi. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Not only did before the 32-team tournament got underway in the United States on 14 June, he has now extended his contract with the club until 2027. More from Football 'A new chapter begins. Same passion, same dream. Let's make history together,' the iconic forward, who had recently , wrote in a post on X confirming his extended stay at the club. A new chapter begins. Same passion, same dream. Let's make history together. 🟡🔵 — Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) June 26, 2025 The five-time Ballon d'Or winner was seen holding a jersey with the words 'Ronaldo 2027' alongside Al-Nassr president Abdullah Al-Majid in a picture accompanying the post. And before the announcement, the club's official social media accounts had posted a video of the 40-year-old walking on a beach and saying the words, 'Al Nassr forever'. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD How much will Cristiano Ronaldo earn in the next two years at Al Nassr? According to The Sun, Ronaldo will be earning nearly half-a-billion pounds (£492 million or US$677 million) after extending his contract by two years. 'CR7', who has topped the goal-scoring chart in each of his two full seasons with Al-Nassr, will thus be earning a whopping half-a-million pounds (£488,000 or US$671,898) per day until the age of 42. Additionally, Ronaldo will be receiving a signing bonus of £24.5 million, which will go up to £38 million should he trigger the second year of his contract. The British publication added that Ronaldo has also been given a 15 per cent ownership stake in the club, worth £33 million (US$45 million) along with bonuses of £4 million and £8 million for winning the golden boot and helping the club win the Saudi Pro League. Ronaldo's status as the world's highest-paid athlete thus is more than likely to remain unchallenged for another two years at least. And a year-year extension with a club at the age of 40 certainly makes Al-Awwal Park, Al-Nassr's home ground, the likely venue for Ronaldo's swansong. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
News18
3 hours ago
- News18
'Gave Up Our Vacations To Play': Raphinha Slams FIFA For Flawed Club World Cup Scheduling
Last Updated: Barcelona and Brazil's Raphinha criticized the expanded FIFA Club World Cup, stressing players weren't consulted and are forced to sacrifice vacations. Barcelona and Brazil forward Raphinha has expressed frustration over players not being consulted about the expanded FIFA Club World Cup, saying no one should be forced to sacrifice their vacation. The new-format tournament began on June 14 and runs until July 13, following a packed schedule that included the end of the European club season in late May and an international window in early June. 'Speaking particularly as someone who plays for a European team, we would (currently) be on vacation," Raphinha said. 'Marquinhos and Beraldo, from Paris Saint-Germain, won the Champions League and didn't even get to celebrate properly. They came to the national team and then went to the Club World Cup. They still haven't stopped." He noted that players' need for rest is often dismissed. 'Many say that this is an excuse. It may or may not be, but having to give up our vacations out of obligation is very complicated. It's our right. Everyone deserves at least a month of vacation. And many of them won't get it." With major European leagues restarting by mid-August and pre-seasons kicking off earlier that month, Raphinha emphasized the demanding schedule. 'If PSG reach the Club World Cup final, they will have the Super Cup right away. It doesn't stop," he said. 'It depends on your point of view. From my point of view, it's very bad to give up your vacation to play something that you are forced to do. At no point did they ask the players if they wanted to. 'It (should be) up to us to accept it. Having to give up your vacation to play in a new tournament is very complicated." Paris Saint-Germain are scheduled to play Tottenham Hotspur in the UEFA Super Cup on August 13, just a month after the Club World Cup concludes. (with Reuters inputs) First Published: June 28, 2025, 10:24 IST
