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Club World Cup semifinals: Who are the Final Four?

by Thobelani Moyo | by Cydias Aujard

image Club World Cup semifinals: Who are the Final Four?
It was just yesterday that the revamped FIFA Club World Cup graced our screens, but now the tournament is two knockout rounds away from being over. We are about to be treated to an entertaining semifinal clash that'll see three European teams and one South American team fight for a spot in the final. In the article below, we have provided the relevant key details and the anticipated fixtures taking place.

Xabi Alonso aims to lead Real Madrid to victory

Xabi Alonso was recently the manager of Germany's Bayer Leverkusen. He signed a three-year deal with Real Madrid (also former club) at the end of the 2024-25 season, after Carlo Ancelotti announced his departure from the club to manage the Brazilian national football team.

Head coach Xabi Alonso's impact with Real Madrid is still in its embryonic stage. However, there are a lot of things worth mentioning in his managerial career. He led Real Sociedad B to the Segunda Division in 2022, to end a 59-year absence, and his efforts went unnoticed as he was quickly snatched by Bayer Leverkusen. There, he made the trophyless club a German giant in the 2023-24 season by handing them its first-ever league title in club history, to winning the DFB Pokal.

Now, he has to deliver for the Spanish giants and start winning trophies for the club. So far, the progress is promising, with Real Madrid two matches away from glory to start the 2025-26 season with a bang and some silverware. He first has to navigate a tricky fixture against Paris Saint-Germain in the semifinal. For betting insights, check out our PSG vs Real Madrid predictions.

Paris Saint-Germain vs Real Madrid: A clash of two European giants

Vitinha and Gonzalo Garcia

  • Date: 09 July 2025, 20:00 (BST)
  • Venue: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

Paris Saint-Germain are newcomers to the FIFA Club World Cup, and one thing that's running through their minds is to conquer this tournament in their debut. From topping Group B with six points, they easily saw off the threat of Lionel Messi's Inter Miami, winning 4-0 in the round of 16. In the quarter-finals, they beat Bayern Munich 2-0 despite being reduced to nine men on the field.

Real Madrid had modest competition in Group H, but their performance was shaky. However, they did manage to finish at the top with a two-point lead. En route to the semifinal, they secured a 1-0 victory over Juventus in the round of 16 and beat Borussia Dortmund in a five-goal thriller, winning 3-2 in the quarterfinals.

Key stats

  • Paris Saint-Germain leads the pack in the FIFA Club World Cup in terms of clean sheets preserved. So far, they have kept four clean sheets in this tournament. 
  • When it comes to expected goals (xG), Paris Saint-Germain averages 12.38 (4th) and Real Madrid averages 12.42 (3rd).
  • Paris Saint-Germain has 62% possession control and are ranked second in the category of the tournament. 

Players to watch

Vitinha (Paris Saint-Germain) has been working hard for his team in the FIFA Club World Cup. With 549 passes made so far, he has a passing accuracy of 95% in the competition. Specializing in midfield, his defensive line break accuracy stands at 93%.

Gonzalo Garcia (Real Madrid) is a real threat in the final third for Real Madrid. The spotlight would've been expected to be shining on Kylian Mbappe, but the youngster has stolen the show as he is in the race for the golden booth. He has been directly involved in five goal involvements with four goals scored and one assist.

Fluminense vs Chelsea: South American giants eye victory against European team

Fabio and Palmer

  • Date: 08 July 2025, 20:00 (BST)
  • Venue: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

Who would've thought that Fluminense was going to be part of the final four in the FIFA Club World Cup? Well, here they are as they continue to impress at this stage. Finishing in second place in Group F behind table-toppers Borussia Dortmund, the South American giants proved their mettle in the knockout stages, defeating the formidable Inter Milan 2-0 in the round of the 16, to secure a 2-1 win against Al Hilal in the quarterfinals. 

The 2022 FIFA Club World Cup, Chelsea, finished as runners-up in Group D with six points. Their path to the semifinal was well-reported with an impressive 4-1 win against Benfica in the round of 16, followed by a 2-1 win against Palmeiras in a quarter-final clash. 

Key Stats

  • Fluminense have kept three clean sheets in the FIFA Club World Cup. This currently sees them ranked second in this category and are one clean sheet shy of matching Paris Saint-Germain. 
  • Chelsea have registered a whopping 85 shots on target. This currently sees them ranked second in this category.
  • Chelsea have a passing accuracy of 91% in the FIFA Club World Cup, which is the joint-third best in the competition. 

Players to watch 

Fabio (Fluminense) is the reason behind his team not conceding too many goals in the FIFA Club World Cup and being made a spectacle of. He kept three clean sheets, the second-best in the tournament. Talking about saves, he made 54, not many, but they were crucial.

Cole Palmer (Chelsea) has recorded 16 attempts at goal, the tournament's joint-second best record. He is tied on this number with Manchester City's Erling Haaland and Real Madrid's Federico Valverde. His presence in the semifinal will be very important if his team were to advance to the final.

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