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Flamengo vs Chelsea: Club World Cup Preview
Flamengo and Chelsea meet in a pivotal Group D encounter at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup on Friday evening at Lincoln Financial Field, with both sides aiming to take a major step toward the knockout stages. This marks the second match of the group phase for both clubs, and with only two games to play, qualification could hang in the balance.
by Berba
This is Flamengo’s third appearance at the Club World Cup, having qualified as 2022 Copa Libertadores champions. The Brazilian side finished runners-up in their 2019 debut, narrowly losing the final to Liverpool in extra time, before claiming third place in the 2022 edition after falling to Al Hilal in the semis. Under the leadership of former Chelsea left-back Filipe Luis, Flamengo arrive in strong form, currently topping the Brazilian Serie A standings and having advanced to the Copa Libertadores round of 16. They were favoured to take three points from their opening game against Esperance Tunis, setting the stage for this clash with Chelsea.
The Blues also have history at this tournament, appearing for a third time after finishing as runners-up in 2012—ironically to a Brazilian side, Corinthians—before capturing the trophy in 2021 (played in 2022) with a win over Palmeiras. Chelsea return to the competition as UEFA Conference League winners and fresh off a top-four Premier League finish. Their opener came against Los Angeles FC, a match they would have targeted as a springboard before this marquee fixture.
This game adds another layer of intrigue with the presence of familiar faces. Former Chelsea midfielder Jorginho, recently signed from Arsenal, is expected to feature for Flamengo, joining a squad that also includes ex-Juventus defenders Danilo and Alex Sandro. However, the Brazilian side could be missing Gonzalo Plata and Nicolás De La Cruz, both of whom have been managing injuries.
On Chelsea’s side, defenders Wesley Fofana and Aaron Anselmino are ruled out, while new signing Liam Delap—brought in from Ipswich Town—should be available for selection. The full squad is yet to be confirmed, but more clarity is expected as the match approaches.
Both sides bring pedigree and ambition to the tournament, and with Chelsea’s recent success against Brazilian opposition in this competition, and Flamengo’s consistent domestic and continental form, Friday’s matchup promises to be one of the highlights of the group stage.