Club World Cup: Chelsea, Fluminense battle for s-finals ticket

Following five tough games at the FIFA Club World Cup (CWC), giant killers Fluminense and Premier League Chelsea find themselves one step away from the final after eliminating Al Hilal and Palmeiras respectively in the quarter-finals.
Fluminense were pegged back after taking an early lead against Al Hilal in the last eight, but ultimately prevailed to maintain their unbeaten record at the tournament. Built on solid foundations, Fluminense have made their way to this stage by conceding in just two of their five games, and after beating UEFA Champions League finalists, Inter Milan, along the way, they won’t fear Chelsea. An 11-match unbeaten run in all competitions should only serve to reinforce belief that they can reach a second successive CWC final.
Most neutrals will expect Conference League holders Chelsea to eliminate the final non-European side in the competition after beating Brazilian opposition in Palmeiras 2-1 in the quarter-final. Opta’s global power rankings support Chelsea’s perceived superiority as they sit 123 places above #134-ranked Fluminense in 11th. Numbers aside, Chelsea’s road to the final four wasn’t as straightforward, with the London club finishing second in their group behind Brazilians Flamengo before failing to keep clean sheets in both knockout games.
This is the first meeting between these sides, but Fluminense previously lost the CWC final against Manchester City in 2023. This is Chelsea’s third game against Brazilian opponents at this tournament, with both prior games seeing goals at both ends.