Club World Cup quarterfinals: South American and European teams chase glory
by Thobelani Moyo | by Thobelani Moyo
Fluminense and Palmerias: The South American giants' path to the quarter-finals
As we recall, six teams from South America entered this competition with high hopes, finishing on a strong note. However, some of those dreams have faded into thin air, as only two teams remain. Both playing their trade in the Brazilian Serie A, Fluminense and Palmeiras are aiming for glory.
Well, these two teams must not be mistaken for newcomers. They have finished as runners-up and know what it takes to compete at the stage highest. Fluminense were runners-up in the previous edition, while Palmeiras' time was four years ago.
Regarding the situation in the group stages, this is both how teams finished:
| Club | Group Stage Finish | Points accumulated |
|---|---|---|
| Fluminense | Second place (Group F) | 5 |
| Palmeiras | First place (Group A) | 5 |
Upcoming fixtures:
- Fluminense vs. Al Hilal | 04 July 2025 20:00 (BST)
- Palmeiras vs. Chelsea | 05 July 2025 02:00 (BST)
Round of 16
- Fluminense stunned European giants Inter Milan by securing a shocking 2-0 victory.
- Palmerias defeated fellow teammates Botafogo 1-0.
Five European giants: Who are they?
The FIFA Club World Cup started with 12 teams from Europe. However, looking at the current situation, that number has been narrowed to just five. The list includes the illustrious Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Dortmund, and 2025 UEFA Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain.
From these five big names, only three have tasted victory in this tournament. Real Madrid leads with five, while Bayern Munich comes in second with two titles, and last in line is Chelsea with one.
Let's check out their group stage and round of 16 performances:
Bayern Munich
- finished in second place in Group C
- eliminated Flamengo in the round of 16 by securing a 4-2 win
Chelsea
- finished in second place in Group D
- eliminated Benfica in the round of 16 by securing a 4-1 win
Dortmund
- topped Group F in the group stages with a two-point cushion
- eliminated Monterrey in the round of 16 by securing a 2-1 win
Paris Saint-Germain
- topped Group B in the group stages
- eliminated Inter Miami by securing a commanding 4-0 win
Real Madrid
- topped Group H in the group stages with a two-point cushion
- eliminated Juventus in the round of 16 by securing a 1-0 win
Al Hilal: The deadly dark horses
Still standing tall is Al Hilal, whose journey in this competition has been well-reported. The team from Asia should not be underestimated; in fact, they must not be mistaken for newcomers. This is their fourth appearance in the FIFA Club World Cup.
Check out their group stage finish:
| Club | Matches played | Wins | Draws | Losses | Goals Fired | Goals Against | Goal Differential | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real Madrid | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 7 |
| Al Hilal | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 5 |
| RB Salzburg | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | -2 | 4 |
| Pachuca | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 7 | -5 | 0 |
This is also the team that shocked the reigning champions, Manchester City, in a seven-goal thriller. Marcos Leonardo, the standout player, had a brace and was the man behind the winning goal in the 112th minute.
Fixtures to watch out for in the quarter-final
Real Madrid vs Dortmund
Real Madrid, five-time champions in the FIFA Club World Cup, are trying to reignite their dominance in this competition, having fallen short in the previous edition. The team from Spain is full of star-studded players within its ranks and will want to use this to their advantage in this competition. For more betting insights on this match, check out our Real Madrid vs Dortmund prediction.
However, their performance in the concluded 2024-25 La Liga season left a bitter taste from finishing as runners-up to their shaky run in the Champions League that saw them being eliminated, leading to the departure of Carlo Ancelotti.
This is the kind of weakness Niko Kovac and company will want to exploit, but their winless run against this opponent is a deal-breaker.
Paris Saint-Germain vs Bayern Munich
Another blockbuster quarter-final clash is that of Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich. Our Sportytrader betting experts expect a high-intensity and entertaining match, and you can find out more on the PSG vs Bayern Munich Prediction.
We can all agree that Paris Saint-Germain had an impressive run in the 2024-25 season. The French giants dominated the league and the European stage. In fact, to make it clearer, this is a team that finished the season with a historic quadruple by winning the Ligue 1 title, Coupe de France, Trophee des Champions, and the Champions League. It seems as if they have carried that momentum into their debut FIFA Club World campaign, making them a force of nature.
Head coach Vincent Kompany is not one to shy away from a fight, as evidenced by his team's 4-2 thrashing of Flamengo in the round of 16. Bayern Munich have also been a threat in the final third, boasting the joint-second best offensive record with the eliminated Manchester City. That is a dangerous weapon Kompany will want to utilize throughout the competition.
