After edging past Palmeiras and watching Fluminense defeat Asian powerhouse Al-Hilal, the two sides will now meet in New Jersey with a spot in the final on the line. Chelsea are riding a wave of momentum, having lifted a European trophy and secured qualification for next season’s UEFA Champions League. They’ve won four of their five matches in the competition so far to reach this stage.
The Blues booked their place in the semi-final with a 2-1 victory over Palmeiras in Friday’s quarter-final. Cole Palmer opened the scoring before an own goal from Agustin Giay helped seal the result, even as Estevao, who is set to join Chelsea, found the net for the Brazilian side.
Earlier, Enzo Maresca’s team had beaten Benfica in the round of 16. That match was disrupted by a long weather delay, which gave the Portuguese club time to regroup and force extra time, but Chelsea ultimately came out on top.
Despite finishing second in Group D after a 3-1 loss to Flamengo, Fluminense’s Rio rivals, Chelsea ended up on what many consider the easier side of the draw, avoiding some of Europe’s biggest names.
Winners of the Club World Cup in 2021 when they also beat Palmeiras in the final, the London club are now just one step away from another shot at the title. After lifting the UEFA Conference League just before heading to the United States, they are eyeing a rare cup double.
Chelsea have come a long way since a rough patch earlier in the season threatened to derail Maresca’s first year in charge. Now, they’ll be expected to beat Fluminense and their former defensive stalwart Thiago Silva in the semifinals, setting up a potential final clash with either Paris Saint-Germain or Real Madrid.
But Fluminense have other plans.The Brazilian side kept their dream alive with a 2-1 win over Al-Hilal in the quarter-finals. The match, played in Orlando, saw Martinelli open the scoring with a superb finish.
Though Marcos Leonardo equalized with his fourth goal of the tournament, substitute Hercules stepped up once again. Days after scoring the winner against Inter Milan, the midfielder calmly slotted home the decisive goal, while 44-year-old goalkeeper Fabio made crucial saves to protect the lead.
Fluminense reached the knockout rounds by finishing second in Group F, following a win over Ulsan HD and two goalless draws. They are now unbeaten in 11 matches, with five clean sheets in their last seven.
Half of their eight goals in the United States have come after the 70th minute, and their defense, led by veteran captain Thiago Silva, has allowed just one second-half goal in the tournament so far.
Although they are representing South America as Copa Libertadores champions, Fluminense are not currently Brazil’s top team. They narrowly avoided relegation last season and currently sit sixth in the 2025 Campeonato Brasileiro. Still, under manager Renato Gaucho, who recently became only the fourth coach in club history to reach 100 wins, they are just two victories away from being crowned world champions.
INJURIES & SUSPENSION
Chelsea are expected to make several changes to the team that started against Palmeiras, as both Liam Delap and Levi Colwill picked up yellow cards in the quarter-final and will be suspended for Tuesday's semi-final.While the Blues handed a debut to new signing Joao Pedro, fellow striker Nicolas Jackson was a surprise absentee despite returning from a two-game suspension. With Delap unavailable, Pedro is likely to lead the line, while Tosin Adarabioyo is expected to step in for Colwill in defence.
Captain Reece James suffered an injury during the warm-up and joined Romeo Lavia on the sidelines. It remains unclear whether either will be fit in time to play in New Jersey. Moises Caicedo, however, is set to return to the starting lineup after serving a one-match ban. Jamie Gittens, another recent arrival, is ineligible for this match.
Fluminense also face suspension-related setbacks, with centre-back Juan Pablo Freytes and midfielder Martinelli both ruled out. Martinelli’s absence could open the door for Hercules to start, after the substitute scored key goals in the previous rounds.
During the knockout stages, manager Renato Gaucho has often switched to a back three. Veteran captain Thiago Silva, who will face his former club despite a recent nose injury, has typically been flanked by Freytes and Ignacio. With Freytes unavailable, that setup may need to be adjusted.
Up front, Fluminense are likely to stick with veteran striker German Cano and creative force Jhon Arias. Arias has been one of the standout performers in the tournament so far, leading his team in shots, chances created, and successful dribbles.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Fluminense possible starting lineup:Fabio; Ignacio, Silva, Fuentes; Xavier, Hercules, Bernal, Nonato, Rene; Arias, Cano
Chelsea possible starting lineup:
Sanchez; Gusto, Tosin, Chalobah, Cucurella; Fernandez, Caicedo; Neto, Palmer, Nkunku; Pedro
EXPERT PREDICTION
Fluminense 1-2 Chelsea
Fluminense have lasted longer in the tournament than many of their fans might have expected, relying on grit and experience to keep their run alive. However, reaching the final could prove a step too far.
Chelsea’s depth and track record in knockout competitions make them the clear favourites. The Blues are expected to come out on top, even if the match goes to extra time.
