Today’s FIFA 2025 Club World Cup Fixtures & Previews

Chelsea, Los Angeles FC open their campaigns today

Two cup winners collide in Group D of the 2025 Club World Cup on Monday, as Chelsea and Los Angeles FC open their campaigns at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

The maiden battle pits the Conference League champions against the US Open Cup holders, who had to take a unique scenic route to enter the home tournament.

Back on the global stage after conquering the continent in both the primary and tertiary sense over the past four years, Chelsea punched their ticket to the current edition of the Club World Cup as soon as the final whistle blew in the 2020-21 Champions League final.

Since hoisting the biggest European honour of them all aloft, the Blues have also created a new page of UEFA history, becoming the first team to win all four major continental tournaments in the Champions League, Europa League, Conference League and Super Cup.

Ending the 2024-25 campaign with eight wins from their final nine games in all tournaments was near-perfect preparation for a third Club World Cup tournament, and the capital giants boast a 50% success rate from their previous two appearances in the competition.

As Champions League holders, Chelsea conquered the 2021-22 edition by beating Palmeiras in extra time in the final, but their inaugural appearance in 2013 saw the Blues finish as runners-up to another Brazilian giant in Corinthians.

The West London powerhouses must coincidentally make it past another Brasileiro outfit in Flamengo just to make it out of Group D, while Tunisian outfit Esperance de Tunis will seek to spring a surprise against both Chelsea and their upcoming foes.

LAFC were originally set to be watching the Club World Cup from home, only for Mexican outfit Leon – the winners of the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League – to be expelled from the tournament due to violations of FIFA’s multi-club ownership rules.

As a result, LAFC and Club America contested a winner-takes-all play-in match for the final spot among the 32, and MLS outfit’s 2-1 extra-time triumph saw them punch their ticket to a maiden appearance in the Club World Cup.

There was space in Chelsea’s 28-man travelling squad for new signings Liam Delap, Dario Essugo and Mamadou Sarr, all of whom should feel optimistic of earning Blues baptisms as Maresca rotates his resources for the duration of the summer.

The big-hitters are all present too – Cole Palmer, Nicolas Jackson, Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo should all have significant parts to play – but hamstring victim Wesley Fofana is still on the treatment table.

A question sure to be on lots of fans’ lips; how much do the Premier League teams actually want the Club World Cup? Maresca’s team selection will certainly give us some pointers in that regard.

Nevertheless, with new signings seeking to make their mark, the Blues have our vote to get off to a flyer, even if they will be denied a clean sheet by a goal-happy LAFC side.

Credit: .sportsmole.co.uk

 

Boca Juniors and Benfica open Group C

Getting their Group C campaign under way at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, Benfica and Boca Juniors will play their Club World Cup opener on Monday.

One of Europe’s most historic sides take on an iconic South American institution, as both battle with underdogs Auckland City and mighty Bayern Munich for a place in the knockout phase.

Having taken something of a backdoor route into FIFA’s revamped and expanded Club World Cup competition, Benfica will aim to take full advantage and go deep into the latter stages.

Restrictions on how many teams from one nation can enter meant that the Portuguese giants were selected, due to having the seventh-best record among eligible clubs in UEFA’s four-year ranking.

Twice recent quarter-finalists in the UEFA Champions League, the Eagles also made an impact on Europe’s top tournament last season, beating Atletico Madrid 4-0, plus posting wins away to Monaco, Red Star Belgrade and Juventus.

Only Barcelona eventually ended their run in the last 16, before Bruno Lage‘s side narrowly lost out to city rivals Sporting Lisbon in the league – and then the cup final, which they lost after extra time.

While they finished with just the Taca da Liga to show for their efforts, Benfica scored 84 goals in the Primeira Liga and will have plenty of firepower available in the United States.

Finally claiming the globe’s top trophy may seem a long shot this summer, but escaping Group C is Benfica’s minimum ambition.

Boca Juniors made just one appearance in the Club World Cup during its previous format – in 2007, they lost 4-2 in the final to AC Milan – but they did lift the old Intercontinental Cup a joint-record three times.

Renowned for their Azul y Oro jerseys and inimitable ‘chocolate box’ stadium, Boca are back as the second-best eligible team in CONMEBOL’s four-year rankings.

Though Benfica are approaching this tournament at the end of a long European season, they should still have enough gas in the tank to beat a below-par Boca side.

Among his fellow veterans, Angel Di Maria can take centre stage at Hard Rock Stadium, helping the Eagles claim three precious points.

Credit: sportsmole.co.uk

 

Italy name World Cup winner Gattuso as manager

Italy have appointed former midfielder Gennaro Gattuso as their manager.

The AC Milan legend replaces Luciano Spalletti, who announced his own sacking at a news conference last week.

Gattuso, 47, made 73 appearances for Italy and was a member of their 2006 World Cup-winning squad, and will now lead his country into the same tournament 20 years later.

Italy won Euro 2020 but failed to qualify for last summer’s tournament, and have also not made it to the past two World Cups.

A 3-0 World Cup qualifying defeat by Norway on 6 June sealed Spalletti’s fate.

The Italian football federation (FIGC) confirmed Gattuso will be presented to the media on Thursday.

“Gattuso is a symbol of Italian football,” FIGC President Gabriele Gravina said.

“The blue jersey is like a second skin for him. His motivations, his professionalism and his experience will be fundamental to best face the upcoming commitments of the national team.”

A glamorous playing career saw Gattuso represent Rangers and AC Milan, among others.

He is most known for his time with Milan, winning the Serie A title and Champions League twice across a 13-year spell.

Since retiring from his playing days in 2013, Gattuso moved into management – and Italy will mark the 10th team he has managed in just 12 years.

Credit: bbc.com

 

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