Fluminense vs Chelsea Preview: Team News & Prediction | 2025 FIFA Club World Cup | Semi-Final

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Fluminense have done extremely well to reach the semi-finals of the FIFA Club World Cup, as they now prepare to take on Chelsea at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

Kick-off date/time:

How to watch on TV & online: UK – DAZN & Channel 5 / US – DAZN

Fluminense team news: Fully fit

Fluminense head into to the semi-final with a fully-fit and available squad, so the Brazilians will be able to name an unchanged eleven from their quarter-final. Their structure has been disciplined and organised, so that should remain.

Predicted XI (3-5-2): Fabio; Ignacio, Silva, Freytes; Samuel Xavier, Matheus Martinelli, Facundo Bernal, Nonato, Gabriel Fuentes; Jhon Arias, German Cano

Unavailable: 

Questionable: 

Chelsea team news: Busy Chels

Chelsea have been, as ever, bringing in unnecessary new signings. Joao Pedro is available to play, but would surely remain unlikely to start, whilst Jamie Gittens isn’t available, having been a part of Borussia Dortmund’s squad in the tournament. Moises Caicedo has returned from suspension for the Blues.

Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; Gusto, Chalobah, Colwill, Cucurella; Moises Caicedo, Fernandez; Neto, Palmer, Nkunku; Delap

Unavailable: Badiashile (Injured)

Questionable: 

Key stats

• This is the first FIFA competition match between these teams.
• Fluminense’s one previous official encounter with an English club came in the final of the competition now known as the FIFA Intercontinental Cup in 2023 when they were beaten 4-0 by Manchester City in Jeddah. Seven current Fluminense players started that game – Fábio, Samuel Xavier, Matheus Martinelli, Jhon Arias, Ganso, Keno and Germán Cano – with an eighth – Lima – coming off the bench.
• This is Chelsea’s third meeting with Brazilian opponents at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. They lost 3-1 to Flamengo on Matchday 2 of the group stage after Pedro Neto had given them a half-time lead, but overcame Fluminense 2-1 in the quarter-final thanks to Cole Palmer’s opener and a late own-goal winner. Both matches took place in Philadelphia.
• Prior to this tournament Chelsea had faced Brazilian teams twice in final of the competition now known as the FIFA Intercontinental Cup, losing 1-0 to Corinthians in the 2012 showpiece in Tokyo but beating Palmeiras 2-1 after extra time in Abu Dhabi to win the 2021 competition (played in February 2022). Their competition record against Brazilian teams is now W2 L2.
• Fluminense have progressed through to the last four without losing a match (W3 D2 L0).
• Fluminense are unbeaten in their last 11 outings in all competitions, winning eight and drawing three (W8 D3 L0).
• Hércules has scored in both of Fluminense’s fixtures in the play-off stage of the FIFA Club World Cup™ – each time from the bench.
• Four of Fluminense’s eight goals in this tournament have been scored by substitutes.
• Chelsea have won 12 of their last 14 matches in all competitions (W12 D0 L2).
• Chelsea have won seven of their nine fixtures in FIFA club competitions (W7 D0 L2).
• Against Palmeiras, Cole Palmer was the sixth different English player to have scored for Chelsea at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™.
• 27 different players have made an appearance for Chelsea in the tournament so far and 24 have featured for Fluminense.
• Fluminense captain Thiago Silva played for Chelsea from 2020-24, winning the 2021 UEFA Champions League and UEFA Super Cup before being named Golden Ball winner (player of the tournament) in the Blues’ triumph in the competition now known as the FIFA Intercontinental Cup in February 2022. Now 40, he rejoined Fluminense from the London club last year. Many of his ex-Chelsea team-mates remain at the club.
• Thiago Silva played against Chelsea three seasons running for Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League knockout phase, starting and finishing all six matches. Although his PSG side lost the 2013/14 quarter-final, they won both round of 16 ties in 2014/15 and 2015/16, his towering header in extra-time of the 2014/15 second leg at Stamford Bridge taking the French club through on the away goals rule.
• Chelsea recently recruited former Fluminense player João Pedro to their squad. Newly arrived from Brighton – the Brazil international with three caps – made his debut for Enzo Maresca’s side as a substitute in the quarter-final against Palmeiras. He came up through Fluminense’s youth ranks before spending the 2019 season in the senior team, scoring ten goals in 37 appearances before leaving for English club Watford. Ganso and Marcelo Pitaluga are former team-mates of João Pedro at Fluminense.
• The other Brazilian in Chelsea’s squad is ex-Vasco da Gama midfielder Andrey Santos, who started the quarter-final against Palmeiras. He has two caps for Brazil.

Fluminense vs Chelsea prediction

Fluminense were arguably the weakest of the four Brazilian sides coming into the tournament, but they have done brilliantly. After going unbeaten in the groups, they then pulled off a surprise 2-0 defeat of Internazionale in the round of 16, before a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Al Hilal in the quarter-finals.

They take on a Chelsea side that, as always, are in transition under Enzo Maresca, and they haven’t had the toughest of runs to the semi-finals. In a tough quarter-final against another Brazilian side, Palmeiras, Chelsea managed to come through as 2-1 winners, with an Agustin Giay own goal winning them the game in the 83rd minute.

Fluminense have made things difficult for European sides such as Inter as well as Borussia Dortmund, and that should be the case again but Chelsea are favourites.

Fluminense vs Chelsea tip: Chelsea to win & under 3.5 goals