The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup is off and running, and has produced plenty of talking points and storylines already. Let’s catch you up on what’s happening, what you’ve missed and what’s still to come.
We will update this file throughout each matchday with the latest reporting, analysis and fun from the competition, so check back regularly for the latest news as we follow the fun leading up to the tournament final at MetLife Stadium on July 13.
The lead: Delap on scoresheet as Chelsea advance to last 16
This is precisely the sort of pattern Liam Delap is hoping to break. Chelsea were leading but laboring in the stifling Philadelphia heat against Espérance de Tunis on Tuesday before their new £30 million striker took his chance to wrap up second place in Group D and safe passage to the round of 16.
Moments after Tosin Adarabioyo’s header had given Chelsea the lead in first-half stoppage time, Delap collected a ball clipped forward by Enzo Fernández before dropping his shoulder, cutting inside on his right foot and rolling the ball into the net. The defending was poor, but Delap’s clinical finish settled what had to that point been a somewhat nervous display, given defeat at Lincoln Financial Field would have sent Chelsea crashing out of the Club World Cup.
They had created a few openings and controlled the play — registering 75% possession in the first half — but were unable to press home that advantage. Time and again, this has been Chelsea’s undoing.
Delap made sure the story was different this time and his first goal for the club — on his third appearance — was the pivotal moment in a 3-0 win and comes at a particularly opportune moment.
Earlier in the day, Chelsea learned that FIFA had decided to extend Nicolas Jackson’s suspension for his red card against Flamengo from the mandatory one game to two. That means he will also miss Saturday’s round-of-16 clash against Benfica in Charlotte, and it will give Delap another opportunity to stake his claim as their main forward when the 2025-26 campaign begins in August.
The competition between Jackson and Delap is close, but there is little doubt who has the momentum right now. He turned a difficult evening into a routine one, and that, in essence, is the job.
Chelsea were sufficiently comfortable to take Delap off in the 59th minute with Benfica in mind, and the two-goal margin here also masked another evening where manager Enzo Maresca tried to balance the seemingly incompatible dual aims of trying to win this competition and experimenting for next season.
Maresca made eight changes to the team that lost to Flamengo, with Cole Palmer, Reece James, Levi Colwill, Marc Cucurella, Moisés Caicedo, Pedro Neto, Trevoh Chalobah, and Robert Sánchez all among the substitutes.
This was largely due to fatigue within the squad and a desire to prioritize the use of fresh legs, given Maresca’s pre-match admission that the team could barely train amid sweltering temperatures which hit 100F for the first time in 13 years earlier on Tuesday.
Just as against Flamengo, Maresca tried something different with Malo Gusto inverting from left back, Noni Madueke on the left wing, and Romeo Lavia acting as a sole midfield pivot with Fernandez and Christopher Nkunku both pushing on behind Delap.
There were encouraging signs, but Chelsea struggled to create much of note until that sudden double salvo from Tosin and Delap.
Andrey Santos made his long-awaited competitive debut, and Nkunku had the chance to score from the spot taken away when a penalty awarded for handball by Yassine Meriah was overturned on VAR review.
Substitute Tyrique George added a late third with a low drive in which Tunis goalkeeper Bechir Ben Saïd should have saved, but in effect, Chelsea were largely running down the clock on a night when only the result mattered.
They will have to be better against Benfica. But if Delap can continue his promising start, there’s every chance they will be. — James Olley
Today’s top Club World Cup news
• Miami’s unbeaten run sets up CWC clash with PSG
• Club World Cup: How teams can reach last 16
• Chelsea’s Jackson handed two-match ban after red
Sights and sounds around FIFA Club World Cup
Di Maria, Benfica upset Bayern to top Group C
CHARLOTTE — Ángel Di María isn’t ready to leave Benfica just yet. The winger, 37, will head back to boyhood club Rosario Central when this Club World Cup is over. But that will have to wait, after Benfica’s 1-0 win over favorites Bayern Munich in Charlotte, North Carolina, confirmed their place in the last 16.
In 97-degree heat — temperatures so high that Bayern decided to follow Borussia Dortmund in allowing their substitutes to watch the game from the locker room — Di Maria rolled back the years. He was involved in the move that put Benfica ahead in the 13th minute, and much later, in the 80th minute, there he was: tirelessly collecting the ball, holding off a defender’s challenge, turning into space and moving the play on, allowing his team to keep possession.
Three minutes later, it was Di Maria calling on those endless reserves of energy and chasing Bayern’s Michael Olise, harrying a player 14 years his junior and pushing Olise, who had the ball, back to the halfway line. That was the story of the game: Bayern dominated, ending with 73% possession and more shots (13-7), crosses (20-3) and chances created (12-5). But Benfica were able to resist.
When Di Maria was finally substituted, in the 87th minute, he was on the far side of the field from the benches. It meant he had to take the long walk around the edge of the field as play continued, saluting the Benfica fans inside Bank of America Stadium as he went.
Di Maria wasn’t their only star. Goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin, 23, made four important saves and was named player of the match. Captain Nicolás Otamendi — also 37 — and his center-back partner António Silva, 21, made 20 clearances between them. Bayern, despite throwing on Harry Kane, Olise and Joshua Kimmich at halftime, were frustrated.
In added time, as Kane headed just wide at the near post, it was Otamendi who rose with him, throwing himself to the ground to earn a free kick. The Argentine’s teammates celebrated it like a goal. Moments later, at the full-time whistle, Otamendi embraced Silva, then Trubin. Benfica’s blend of youth and experience had done enough.
“The weather was extremely hot,” Trubin said afterward. “I’m so tired, I don’t feel nothing. I just want to rest.” He can rest until Saturday, when Benfica play next. Topping Group C, finishing unbeaten on seven points, means they’ll face Group D’s runners-up. Bayern, who made themselves tournament favorites when they beat Auckland 10-0, had to settle for second place. — Alex Kirkland
Flamengo go unbeaten in their group, but now face tougher opposition in knockout stage
ORLANDO — Flamengo look like a team that could conceivably win the Club World Cup, but they’re going to have to do it the hard way.
After finishing top of Group D ahead of Chelsea — despite a 1-1 draw with LAFC at Camping World Stadium on Tuesday — their reward is a match in the round of 16 against Bayern Munich in Miami on Sunday.
If they win that, their quarterfinal is likely to be against European champions Paris Saint-Germain, who play Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami in their round-of-16 match. They couldn’t have picked a harder route to the semifinals.
Flamengo, sitting top of their domestic championship in Brazil, announced themselves as a genuine contender for the trophy with their 3-1 win over Chelsea. But Enzo Maresca might think now that something positive has come from the defeat, with his team scheduled to play Benfica in the second round before a possible quarterfinal against either Palmeiras or Botafogo.
Flamengo boss Filipe Luís will not be too concerned about the draw with LAFC.
He made seven changes to the team that beat Chelsea and they still should have won comfortably. They hit the woodwork four times before Denis Bouanga opened the scoring for LAFC in the 84th minute.
The Brazilian fans, who made the game in Orlando feel like it was being played in Rio, finally got something to shout about when Wallace Yan got a deserved equalizer two minutes later. — Rob Dawson
Auckland scores a goal
Much has been made of the Club World Cup’s sole amateur team and Oceania representatives Auckland City for their off-field stories rather than their on-field play, but their final Group C game yielded a goal and something meaningful (in addition to the participation money) to take back to New Zealand.
52′ AUCKLAND CITY SCORE THEIR FIRST GOAL OF THE FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP!!! 🇳🇿
Watch the @FIFACWC | June 14 – July 13 | Every Game | Free | https://t.co/i0K4eUtwwb | #FIFACWC #TakeItToTheWorld #AKLBOC pic.twitter.com/a9AHuYcJzR
— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) June 24, 2025
The goal came as so many underdogs’ do — via a set piece, with Jerson Lagos’ outswinging corner finding the noggin of central defender Christian Gray, who steered a header beyond the diving Agustin Marchesin. In the grand scheme of things, the goal did nothing to change the trajectory of Group C — Benfica’s 1-0 win over Bayern Munich took care of any drama, with Boca Juniors eliminated by that result — as things in Nashville were delayed for nearly an hour due to adverse weather.
Gray will return to his day job in Auckland as a teacher — he had to be approved for time off work in order to suit up for the Navy Blues — Jerson Lagos will go back to his part-time barber gig and the Club World Cup will tick over, but we’ll always have that goal, and their delirious celebrations, to reflect on after a memorable tournament. — James Tyler
Goodbye, Boca Juniors
NASHVILLE — Boca Juniors, with perhaps the most vibrant fan base in the group stage of the FIFA Club World Cup, said goodbye to the tournament after a 1-1 draw in their final match against Auckland City.
Nashville welcomed the Argentine team with a temperature of 91 degrees Fahrenheit (33 degrees Celsius). Although they had to win the match, they also had to hope for a Bayern Munich victory over Benfica, which never came, as the Portuguese team won 1-0. The result was watched by the Xeneizes fans on the screens at Geodis Park, while their team’s game was suspended for 45 minutes due to a threat of a thunderstorm.
Despite the bad news of Benfica’s victory, the Boca Juniors fans never stopped cheering. — José Muñoz, ESPN Mexico
Flamengo ready for matchup against Bayern
As Flamengo prepare for a heavyweight clash against German powerhouse Bayern Munich, some of the players look forward to the match ahead of them as they look to progress in the Club World Cup as true contenders.
“We managed to qualify in first place and remain undefeated,” said defender Alex Sandro to CazéTV. “That’s great for getting into the next round with high confidence. [Bayern?] We know how strong they are and the players they have. But we also know what we have to do.
“Our game plan doesn’t change. Playing against Bayern has always been great. Playing against big teams, in a way, helps us prepare better. It’s a great opportunity to see what level we are at today. And the level will increase 100%, both for them and for us.”
“It’s a team [Bayern] that’s used to winning and playing great matches,” said defender Danilo to SporTV.
“I’ve faced them a few times in my life, and I know exactly what kind of team we’re going to face. I also played with their coach [Vincent Kompany] at Manchester City, and he was my captain.
He’s a guy who demands commitment and intensity from his players. That’s how it was when he was City’s captain, and that’s how he is as a coach, and he takes care of every detail. For us to get through the next round, we’ll need to be at our best once again, playing with a lot of synergy. As we’ve shown, we have every chance of getting through.” — Roberto Rojas
Monterrey’s Sergio Ramos and Sergio Canales train with team
PASADENA — Sergio Ramos, Johan Rojas and Sergio Canales trained alongside their teammates ahead of Wednesday’s match against Urawa Red Diamonds, their last game of the group stage in the Club World Cup, with the possibility of getting a ticket for the knockout phase.
Canales hasn’t been at his top level throughout the tournament, and sources told ESPN that the Spanish player is dealing with a injury in the thigh. He will be a game-time decision for the match, which will be held at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.
Ramos, a former Spain national team defender, didn’t participate in joint exercises the previous days, but he worked alongside his teammates on Tuesday. — Ricardo Cariño, ESPN Mexico
1:09
Burley: Don’t judge teams on Club World Cup performance
Craig Burley explains why you can’t use the Club World Cup to determine which sides are stronger than others.
Star player of the day
Gray’s goal for Auckland will be remembered
There’s only one name stealing the headlines today at the Club World Cup: Christian Gray, the man who just might become the coolest teacher at his school when he returns home to New Zealand.
Gray’s towering header for Auckland City against Boca Juniors goalkeeper Agustín Marchesín didn’t just give the OFC side their first and only goal of the tournament, but it secured a stunning 1-1 draw with the South American giants and capped their journey on a high note.
Yes, Auckland conceded 17 goals in three games. But Gray’s moment will be remembered not just for denying Boca their own Music City Miracle in Nashville and a spot in the round of 16, but for symbolizing the charm of a semi-professional side standing tall among global giants like Bayern Munich and Benfica.
One of the most heartwarming stories of this Club World Cup belongs to Auckland and especially for Gray. — Rojas
Match previews, odds for Wednesday
Borussia Dortmund vs. Ulsan HD (Group F; Cincinnati, Ohio, 3 p.m. ET)
Odds (via ESPN BET
): Borussia Dortmund (-600), Draw (+600), Ulsan HD (+1000)
The fact that Dortmund are in a good position to advance from Group F is somewhat fortunate considering their bumpy, chaotic Club World Cup to date. First, they had a 0-0 draw with Fluminense in which they needed Gregor Kobel’s heroics between the posts to preserve a point. Then there was a 4-3 win over Mamelodi Sundowns in which Niko Kovac’s side raced to a 4-1 lead after an hour and then white-knuckled their way to a win in which they were outshot, outdone in possession and outmatched in the xG battle (2.74-1.72). And yet, if they complete business against an Ulsan HD side that’s already eliminated, they’ll set up a date with either (we think) River Plate or Inter Milan in the round of 16.
Serhou Guirassy opened his Club World Cup account against Mamelodi and should thrive again here if he’s able to get consistent service from Jobe Bellingham, who is still getting used to his new surroundings. (Julian Brandt also needs to be a bigger figure for this team in the final third, but they’ve got plenty of time to figure it out.) We expect a comfortable Dortmund win and another big European side in the last-16, but this tournament has shown a capacity to surprise. — Tyler
Mamelodi Sundowns vs. Fluminense (Group F; Miami, Fla., 3 p.m. ET)
Odds: Mamelodi Sundowns (+300), Draw (+260), Fluminense (-115)
Fluminense host Mamelodi Sundowns in their final group stage match at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
The Brazilian giants currently lead the Group F standings with four points and a goal difference of plus-2 after a 0-0 draw against Borussia Dortmund and a 4-2 victory over Ulsan HD. Though a triumph on Wednesday afternoon against Sundowns would ensure qualification to the round of 16, the top slot of the group depends on the results of the final round of matches.
Dortmund also currently boast four points after a victory and a draw, but they sit in second place due to their goal difference of plus-1. Should the German team beat Ulsan HD by more goals than Fluminense score on Sundowns, the Brazilian side would qualify in second place.
But Mamelodi Sundowns will not make it easy for Fluminense, as a victory could see the team through to the next round of the Club World Cup. The South African team beat Ulsan to tally three points and enter the final round with hopes of advancing. — Lizzy Becherano
Inter Milan vs. River Plate (Group E; Seattle, Wash., 9 p.m. ET)
Odds: Inter Milan (+130), Draw (+175), River Plate (+280)
Inter were the oldest side in Europe’s Big Five leagues last season by weighted minutes. That will likely change next season, and we’re getting glimpses of it in the Club World Cup. Cristian Chivu has a long history working with youngsters, and at Parma last season, he worked with one of the youngest sides in all of Europe. From the Esposito brothers (Pio and Sebastiano, who will be competing for a starting spot alongside Lautaro Martínez) to Valentin Carboni, who notched the winner against Urawa (after missing nearly all of 2024-25 through injury), the Nerazzurri have a number of gifted young players ready for their shot.
That said, the most coveted young player on display will be turning out for River Plate. Real Madrid-bound Franco Mastantuono is already drawing comparisons with Lamine Yamal (he’s actually a bit younger), and while he’s still raw, the sense of possibility every time he gets the ball is palpable. — Gab Marcotti
Urawa Red Diamonds vs. Monterrey (Group E; Pasadena, Calif., 9 p.m. ET)
Odds: Urawa Red Diamonds (+300), Draw (+270), Monterrey (-120)
The J.League side are strictly playing for pride after two defeats from two games in Seattle, taking a short jaunt south to take on Liga MX champions Monterrey at the hallowed Rose Bowl. They had a mere 18% possession in a 2-1 defeat vs. Inter Milan in which they held a 1-0 lead until the final 12 minutes, and were outclassed by a River Plate side that had tenacity, talent and Real Madrid-bound Franco Mastantuono. Monterrey have a great chance to win and buck the trend of Concacaf teams going home early, but they’ll need to score: A repeat of their performance vs. Inter — just four shots on target and a sole Sergio Ramos headed goal — simply won’t be enough. Coach Domènec Torrent will be hoping his biggest creative source, Sergio Canales, has recovered in time from injury to feature. — Tyler
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