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Historic upsets and shocks (Live blog)
Al Hilal’s stunning victory over Manchester City
In one of the most remarkable upsets in Club World Cup history, Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal eliminated defending champions Manchester City with a dramatic 4-3 extra-time victory in the Round of 16 at Orlando’s Camping World Stadium. Despite City’s early dominance and a ninth-minute goal by Bernardo Silva, Al Hilal showcased resilience and tactical prowess to overturn the deficit.
Marcos Leonardo equalised early in the second half, capitalizing on City’s defensive lapses. Malcom then gave Al Hilal the lead, exploiting City’s vulnerability on counterattacks. Although Erling Haaland leveled the score, the match extended into extra time. Kalidou Koulibaly’s header restored Al Hilal’s advantage, but Phil Foden responded with a sublime volley, marking his 100th goal for City. However, Leonardo struck again in the 112th minute, sealing a historic win for Al Hilal.
Al Hilal’s goalkeeper, Yassine Bounou, delivered a stellar performance with 10 crucial saves, leading the tournament with 23 saves in four games. Manager Simone Inzaghi, who joined Al Hilal shortly before the tournament, masterminded the victory despite missing key players like Salem Al-Dawsari and Aleksandar Mitrovic.
The defeat not only ended City’s title defense but also cost them a potential £92 million jackpot.
Fluminense’s elimination of Inter Milan
Brazil’s Fluminense delivered another significant upset by defeating Inter Milan 2-0 in the Round of 16 at Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium. Germán Cano opened the scoring in the third minute, capitalising on a defensive error. Despite Inter’s efforts to equalize, Fluminense’s defense, led by veteran Thiago Silva, held firm. Hércules sealed the victory with a goal in stoppage time, ensuring Fluminense’s progression to the quarter-finals.
Inter, who topped their group with an unbeaten record, were favorites to advance but struggled to break down Fluminense’s organised defense. The Brazilian side’s disciplined performance and clinical finishing underscored the increasing threat posed by South American clubs in global competitions.
European giants’ mixed fortunes
Bayern Munich’s Journey: From record wins to tactical challenges
Bayern Munich started their campaign with a commanding 10-0 victory over Auckland City, showcasing their attacking prowess. Jamal Musiala, Thomas Müller, Kingsley Coman, and Michael Olise were among the standout performers in this match
Following this, Bayern secured a 2-1 win against Boca Juniors, with goals from Harry Kane and Michael Olise. However, they faced a setback in their final group match, losing 1-0 to Benfica, which resulted in a second-place finish in Group C.
In the Round of 16, Bayern faced Flamengo and emerged victorious with a 4-2 win. Harry Kane netted twice, and Leon Goretzka added a long-range goal, propelling them into the quarter-finals.
Paris Saint-Germain’s dominant display
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) began their tournament with a 4-0 triumph over Atlético Madrid, followed by a 2-0 win against Seattle Sounders. Despite a surprising 1-0 loss to Botafogo, PSG topped Group B.
In the Round of 16, PSG faced Inter Miami and secured a 4-0 victory. João Neves scored twice, with additional goals from Achraf Hakimi and an own goal by Tomas Avilés.
Real Madrid’s steady progression
Real Madrid topped Group H with seven points, achieving wins over Red Bull Salzburg and CF Pachuca, and a draw against Al Hilal.
They are set to face Juventus in the Round of 16, with the match scheduled at Hard Rock Stadium in Florida.
Underdog stories
Auckland City’s heroic draw against Boca Juniors
Auckland City FC, a semi-professional team from New Zealand, captured global attention with a remarkable 1-1 draw against Argentine giants Boca Juniors in their final Group C match at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. This result was particularly striking given Auckland City’s earlier heavy defeats: a 10-0 loss to Bayern Munich and a 6-0 defeat by Benfica.
In the match against Boca Juniors, Auckland City fell behind in the 26th minute due to an own goal by goalkeeper Nathan Garrow. However, they showcased resilience and determination, equalizing in the 52nd minute when Christian Gray, a physical education teacher by profession, headed in a corner delivered by Jerson Lagos, a barber.
The match was temporarily halted for nearly 50 minutes due to a lightning storm, adding to the drama of the encounter. Despite the interruption and Boca Juniors’ efforts to regain the lead, including a disallowed goal due to handball, Auckland City’s defense held firm, securing a historic draw.
This draw not only earned Auckland City their first point of the tournament but also eliminated Boca Juniors from the competition. The New Zealand media hailed the performance as “heroic” and “remarkable,” emphasizing the team’s determination and spirit.
Financially, the draw proved beneficial for Auckland City. They received an additional $1 million for the result, bringing their total earnings from the tournament to approximately $3.5 million, a significant sum for a club whose players typically earn modest wages and often hold other jobs.
This performance marked a fitting end to Auckland City’s participation in the tournament and served as a testament to the unpredictable and inspiring nature of football.
Quarter-final matchups
The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup quarter-finals have concluded, setting the stage for thrilling semi-final encounters. Here are the updated results:
1. Fluminense 2–1 Al Hilal
– Date: Friday, July 4
– Venue: Camping World Stadium, Orlando
Fluminense advanced to the semi-finals with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Al Hilal. Matheus Martinelli opened the scoring just before halftime. Al Hilal equalised early in the second half through Marcos Leonardo. However, substitute Hércules secured the win for Fluminense with a goal in the 70th minute.
2. Chelsea 2–1 Palmeiras
– Date: Saturday, July 5
– Venue: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
Chelsea edged past Palmeiras in a closely contested match. Cole Palmer gave Chelsea an early lead in the 16th minute. Palmeiras’ Estêvão equalised in the 53rd minute with a stunning goal. The decisive moment came in the 83rd minute when a deflected cross from Malo Gusto resulted in an own goal by Palmeiras goalkeeper Weverton.
3. Paris Saint-Germain 2–0 Bayern Munich
– Date: Saturday, July 5
– Venue: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Paris Saint-Germain secured a 2-0 victory over Bayern Munich, despite being reduced to nine men due to red cards issued to Willian Pacho and Lucas Hernández. Désiré Doué opened the scoring in the 78th minute, and Ousmane Dembélé added a second in stoppage time. The match was marred by a serious injury to Bayern’s Jamal Musiala, who suffered a fractured fibula and ligament damage following a collision with PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
4. Real Madrid 3–2 Borussia Dortmund
– Date: Saturday, July 5
– Venue: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
Real Madrid triumphed 3-2 over Borussia Dortmund in a thrilling encounter. Gonzalo García and Fran García gave Madrid a 2-0 lead by halftime. Dortmund mounted a late comeback with goals from Maximilian Beier and a penalty by Serhou Guirassy, sandwiched around a stunning volley from Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé. A pivotal red card to Madrid defender Dean Huijsen, who fouled Guirassy to concede the penalty, means he will miss the next match. Thibaut Courtois made a crucial last-minute save to preserve the win.
Semi-final matchups
The semi-finals concluded with decisive victories, setting the stage for an all-European final:
1. Fluminense 0–2 Chelsea
– Date: Tuesday, July 8
– Venue: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
Chelsea advanced to the final with a 2-0 win over Fluminense. João Pedro, making his full debut after a £60 million move from Brighton, scored both goals against his former club. His standout performance solidified Chelsea’s position in the final.
2. Paris Saint-Germain 4–0 Real Madrid
– Date: Wednesday, July 9
– Venue: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
Paris Saint-Germain delivered a commanding 4-0 victory over Real Madrid. Ousmane Dembélé, returning from injury, assisted Fabian Ruiz’s opener and scored himself within the first nine minutes. Fabian added a second goal, and substitutes Gonçalo Ramos and Bradley Barcola completed the scoring.
Final matchup
The final is set to feature two European powerhouses:
– Date: Sunday, July 13
– Venue: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
– Kick-off: 3:00 PM local time (8:00 PM BST)
This marks the first Club World Cup final contested by two European teams. Chelsea aims to secure their second title, while PSG seeks to complete a historic quadruple, having already won Ligue 1, Coupe de France, and the UEFA Champions League this season.
