Flamengo vs Chelsea

Chelsea are aiming for another win in their Club World Cup journey as they take on Flamengo in Philadelphia on Friday, following their opening victory against Los Angeles FC.

Flamengo, fresh off a 2-0 triumph over Esperance de Tunis, are also chasing consecutive wins in the tournament. The Brazilian club earned their spot in the competition through their 2022 Copa Libertadores success, making them one of four qualifying teams.

Managed by former Chelsea defender Filipe Luis, Flamengo have thrived under his leadership. Since taking charge in September, Luis has guided the team to 32 victories, 11 draws, and just three losses in 46 competitive matches. His squad currently leads the Brasileiro standings, boasting seven wins, three draws, and one loss in their first 11 games of the 2025 season.

Flamengo paused their domestic title pursuit to focus on the Club World Cup, where they kicked off with a 2-0 win against Esperance de Tunis, with goals from Giorgian de Arrascaeta and Luiz Araujo. That result extended their winning streak to five games and marked their ninth consecutive match without a loss since a defeat to Cruzeiro on May 4. The team’s defense has been particularly impressive, keeping four clean sheets in a row, though they face a tough challenge against Chelsea.

Chelsea, buoyed by a strong end to their 2024-25 season, entered the expanded Club World Cup in high spirits after clinching a trophy and a top-five Premier League finish. The Blues dominated Real Betis 4-1 in the Conference League final and secured fourth place in the Premier League with a 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest, earning a spot in next season’s Champions League.

Under Enzo Maresca’s guidance, Chelsea are pursuing their second Club World Cup title, having won the 2021 edition with a 2-1 extra-time victory over Palmeiras. They launched their 2025 campaign with a 2-0 win over LAFC, courtesy of goals from Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernandez. The West London side have now won nine of their last 10 competitive matches, with three clean sheets in their past four games, highlighting their defensive solidity.

A victory over Flamengo, combined with an Esperance de Tunis failure to beat LAFC, would guarantee Chelsea a spot in the last 16 with a game to spare in their first-ever encounter with the Brazilian side.