The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup has been an eye-opener to how close the level of South American football is to that of European football. Taking a look at the matches that have been played so far, one can boldly attest to the fact that European clubs and countries cannot go into any competition involving South American teams with the expectation of cruising to victory from start to finish.
We saw how PSG, who had just beaten Italian giants Inter Milan 5–0 in the finals of the UEFA Champions League, replicated the same form at the commencement of their FIFA Club World Cup campaign with a 4–0 win over fellow European side Atlético Madrid, ended up being defeated by Brazilian side Botafogo who were not even the best team in Brazil at the time the FIFA Club World Cup began.
As it stands, there are four teams left. Of the four, Fluminense is the only team from outside Europe, while PSG, Real Madrid, and Chelsea make up the remaining three.
By 8 PM WAT, Fluminense will take on Chelsea in the first semifinal of the FIFA Club World Cup, while PSG and Real Madrid will battle it out in the second semifinal encounter, slated for tomorrow, the 9th of July. Chelsea, who have already lost to a Brazilian side earlier in the competition, go into this semifinal clash as favourites, having sent Palmeiras packing in the quarterfinals a few days ago.
Though unbeaten, Fluminense will feel they can go all the way to the final and etch their name in history as the first team to lift the FCWC, just as a South American team, Uruguay, was the first to lift the FIFA World Cup in 1930 when they beat Argentina 4-2.
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PSG, who beat Bayern Munich 2–0 despite being two men down, are the tournament’s clear favourites. However, they face a team like Real Madrid, who on their day do not need to be in form to beat any opponent, as they have shown so far. Despite having just recruited a new manager, Real Madrid has not played like a team struggling to understand his style, unlike many sides in similar situations.
On the list of teams most likely to progress and win the competition, PSG are favourites at 42%, followed by Real Madrid with 38%, Chelsea at 12%, and Fluminense with an 8% chance of pulling it off.
