On Tuesday, July 8, 2025, Chelsea’s youthful squad, led by Enzo Maresca, will face Fluminense in the FIFA Club World Cup semifinal at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, at 8:00 PM WAT (3:00 PM ET). The match pits Chelsea’s emerging talents, with an average starting lineup age of 24 against Palmeiras, against Fluminense’s experienced core, led by 40-year-old former Chelsea defender Thiago Silva. Silva, who won the 2021 UEFA Champions League during his four-year stint at Chelsea (2020–2024, 155 appearances), returned to Fluminense, his boyhood club, in 2024, helping them reach the 2023 Copa Libertadores title and now the Club World Cup semifinals after defeating Inter Milan (2-0) and Al-Hilal (2-1). Chelsea’s Marc Cucurella, a former teammate, praised Silva as a “legend of football,” anticipating a competitive reunion (web:0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,11,12,14,18,19,20,21,23,24; post:0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7).
Match Dynamics and Key Players
Chelsea, fresh off a 4-1 extra-time victory over Palmeiras in the quarter-finals, have faced Brazilian opposition twice, losing 3-1 to Flamengo in the group stage but showing resilience with new signings like 23-year-old João Pedro, a former Fluminense forward who debuted against Palmeiras. Moises Caicedo, 23, returns from suspension to anchor the midfield, while future signings Estevão Willian (18, joining from Palmeiras in 2026) and Jamie Gittens (20, from Dortmund) highlight Chelsea’s youth focus. Fluminense, coached by Renato Gaúcho, relies on Silva’s defensive leadership, 44-year-old goalkeeper Fábio, and 27-year-old Colombian winger Jhon Arias, dubbed the tournament’s standout with three assists. Maresca noted Fluminense’s organization and high energy, attributing it to the Brazilian season’s timing, unlike Chelsea’s post-Premier League fatigue.
Fluminense’s “family atmosphere,” as Silva described to DAZN, has defied financial disparities, with their collective spirit overcoming wealthier clubs like Al-Hilal (web:0,1,3). Chelsea, fourth in the 2024/25 Premier League and UEFA Conference League winners, are one win from the July 13 final against either Real Madrid or PSG, who face off in the other semifina.
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