The 2025 FIFA Membership World Cup is off and working, and has produced loads of speaking factors and storylines already. Let’s catch you up on what’s occurring, what you’ve got missed and what’s nonetheless to come back.
We’ll replace this file all through every matchday with the most recent reporting, evaluation and enjoyable from the competitors, so verify again repeatedly for the most recent information as we comply with the enjoyable main as much as the event ultimate at MetLife Stadium on July 13.
The lead: Chelsea flattened by Flamengo in Friday shock
PHILADELPHIA, Penn. — It solely took six minutes for Chelsea’s Membership World Cup marketing campaign to be thrown into severe jeopardy on Friday.
Whereas main Flamengo 1-0 within the Philadelphia early afternoon warmth, the Blues had been closing in on changing into the primary workforce to guide their place within the round-of-16. Plans included an prolonged coaching camp in Miami as they honed their preparations for a sustained assault on the competitors’s latter levels, and the £97million first prize that might be a fine addition to Chelsea’s steadiness sheet.
After which, simply after the hour mark, all the pieces modified. The lead given to them by Pedro Neto’s well-taken Thirteenth-minute strike evaporated as Bruno Henrique, after which Danilo, transformed from shut vary to show the sport on its head, earlier than Nicolas Jackson bought himself despatched off for an idiotic problem on Ayrton Lucas. Wallace Yan added a late third to offer Flamengo a win they completely deserved each on and off the pitch, as a combative and dynamic show was mirrored by the fervour and fury of hundreds clad in pink and black stripes predominantly gathered behind the tip that introduced them such second-half pleasure.
Flamengo STUNS Chelsea!! 😳
Watch the @FIFACWC | June 14 – July 13 | Each Sport | Free | https://t.co/i0K4eUtwwb | #FIFACWC #TakeItToTheWorld #FLACHE pic.twitter.com/JfVDeHe6To
— DAZN Soccer (@DAZNFootball) June 20, 2025
This was a efficiency that raises a number of questions on Chelsea and head coach Enzo Maresca. He began with Reece James in midfield and Cole Palmer stationed on the suitable flank. There was an irony to Palmer talking about coveting his new No.10 shirt yesterday, just for Maresca to then ask the 23-year-old to vacate the corresponding central place the place he’s simplest.
It contributed to a disjointed show through which Palmer struggled to impose himself, amassing simply 15 touches and three accomplished passes within the first half. Palmer ended up with 32 touches and the ignominy of an 82nd-minute substitution when Chelsea had been right down to 10 males and chasing the sport.
“We tried to do one thing totally different within the sport, for subsequent season and the long run,” stated Maresca following the defeat. “Now we’ve got yet one more sport, we’ll attempt to win.”
However Jackson will draw extra of the criticism. He was on the sphere for simply 4 minutes as a second-half sub, and touched the ball solely as soon as when lunging in late proper in entrance of Salvadorian referee Iván Arcides Barton Cisneros. Jackson was despatched off at Newcastle in early Could in a equally silly act that threatened to derail their hopes of Champions League qualification. Chelsea survived with out him to hit their goal again then, however Liam Delap will likely be taking centre stage towards Esperance Sportive de Tunis again at Lincoln Monetary Subject on Wednesday to make sure the Blues’ secure passage from Group D.
It will be speculative to look too far forward however the chance that Chelsea will not prime the group is now very actual and, all issues being equal, they might face Bayern Munich within the last-16. Such a sport would signify a significant early check of the workforce’s credentials to win a contest the membership’s homeowners view as significantly essential, not least due to the money on supply.
On this proof, nonetheless, Chelsea do not look as much as it. Like different managers coming to the U.S. on the finish of an extended season, Maresca has spoken of the necessity to rotate and steadiness attempting to win with managing minutes and making ready for the 2025-26 marketing campaign. It’s a tough balancing act, however one he should do higher with. This was a wake-up name, an introduction to the event correct with nearly all of 54,019 followers towards them backing a spirited workforce who seemed hungrier and extra motivated.
There’s time for that to alter, after all, however issues simply bought considerably tougher for Chelsea. — James Olley
In the present day’s prime Membership World Cup tales
• Membership World Cup’s most various groups
• CWC permutations: How each workforce can advance
• Boca Juniors pair suspended 4 video games every
Sights and sounds round FIFA Membership World Cup
Flamengo’s massive sport expertise exhibits vs. Chelsea
PHILADELPHIA, Penn. — Chelsea had been warned pre-match that this was going to be “like an away sport” not a lot due to the numbers within the stands at Lincoln Monetary Subject, which had been comparatively even, however due to the noise and assist generated by the Mengao devoted. And the Flamengo followers bought to see their workforce out-football and outsmart their pedigreed European opposition.
On paper, a trio of Georgian de Arrascaeta, Jorginho and Erick Pulgar — for all their creativity and technical capacity — ought to battle towards the dynamism and athleticism of Chelsea, all of the extra so with Maresca exiling Cole Palmer broad and bringing again Enzo Fernández. However expertise and intelligence could make up for lots, and this was the case at the same time as Flamengo went within the break a objective down.
On the steadiness of play, even within the first half, Filipe Luis’ aspect did not really feel inferior, they simply conceded to a person error. And after the break, they drove that time dwelling.
Lincoln Monetary Subject changed into Maracanã. Superb power from @Flamengo_en followers! ❤️🖤
Watch the @FIFACWC | June 14 – July 13 | Each Sport | Free | https://t.co/i0K4eUtwwb | #FIFACWC #TakeItToTheWorld #FLACHE pic.twitter.com/ZC5C5sTD8M
— DAZN Soccer (@DAZNFootball) June 20, 2025
Changing de Arrascaeta with Bruno Henrique was a giant name, and one which was vindicated with a objective and an help inside minutes of the restart. Nico Jackson’s second of foolishness did the remaining, however fact be advised, Flamengo seemed just like the extra grown-up workforce even within the first half, when three Chelsea gamers went into the guide whereas one other, Marc Cucurella, may have too.
Actually, it should not be shocking that Flamengo are the grownups right here. Chelsea are a really younger aspect; Flamengo are filled with expertise and a familiarity with the large stage. Apart from fullback Wesley, the whole beginning XI have expertise taking part in overseas, principally in Europe. Jorginho and Danilo previously captained golf equipment like Chelsea and Juventus. Gerson performed for Roma and Marseille, Pulgar for Fiorentina and Galatasaray.
There is a big-game ethos on this Flamengo aspect, which matches a membership that considers itself the largest in Brazil and that sits prime of the desk in Group D. I imply, that is the membership of Zico and Leonardo, the one which performs their dwelling video games on the freaking Maracana. And no, they weren’t going to be intimidated by going a objective down towards Chelsea — actually not the ugly, pokey model of the Blues that was on show on the Linc. — Gab Marcotti
Boca Juniors and their followers introduced the occasion with them
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — “Edi! Edi! A photograph, please! Edi!”
Edinson Cavani smiles patiently, and poses for one final photograph. The Boca Juniors ahead, 38, has taken a lot already this week, and yet one more will not damage. Every night time at Boca’s workforce lodge in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, it is the identical scene as followers collect exterior, singing, chanting, taking part in music in hopes of assembly their heroes.
In every single place you go in Fort Lauderdale — by the seaside, on the mall — you see Boca shirts. Some followers are even staying on the workforce lodge, growing the chances of an opportunity encounter. There’s midfielder Ander Herrera, wearing his coaching gear, strolling via the foyer. At night time, Juan Román Riquelme — Boca legend, iconic No.10, and now the membership’s president — takes a stroll alongside the town’s New River, flanked by two members of workers. Some followers carry shirts or balls to be signed. One other walks into the foyer holding a mannequin of Boca’s La Bombonera stadium.
Boca aren’t the one workforce staying right here in Fort Lauderdale. Driving down the Seashore Boulevard, native police cease visitors. Is it an accident? No, it is Borussia Dortmund’s branded workforce bus, heading to that morning’s coaching session accompanied by a police escort. Two followers in Dortmund shirts see the bus and dash off the seaside, hoping to catch a glimpse of the gamers.
Again at Boca’s lodge on Las Olas Boulevard, Cavani lastly walks inside via a non-public entrance as a safety guard waves away the remaining followers. Two of them, lodge friends, head into the foyer and name an elevator, clutching a newly signed shirt. On the way in which up, it stops on the eighth ground, dwelling to the lodge’s gymnasium. The elevator doorways open — and there is Cavani strolling previous once more, trying shocked.
“Edi! A photograph!” they shout. “You’ve got had one already!” he laughs, because the doorways shut. Nonetheless, there’s at all times tomorrow. — Alex Kirkland
Extra speaking factors to comply with…
Star participant of the day
Information to comply with…
Match previews, odds for Friday
Mamelodi Sundowns vs. Borussia Dortmund (Group F; Cincinnati, OH, Midday ET)
Odds (by way of ESPN BET
): Mamelodi Sundowns (+600), Draw (+400), Borussia Dortmund (-260)
You’d anticipate Dortmund to win this at a canter given their pedigree on paper, however the warmth and humidity is a significant equalizer in terms of what occurs on the sphere at this competitors, and Mamelodi Sundowns’ business and energy has them topping Group F heading into Saturday’s lunchtime conflict. Dortmund might want to present extra creativity and fervour in the event that they’re to increase their Membership World Cup participation, having barely mustered 0.24 xG of their opening sport 0-0 towards Fluminense. Keeper Gregor Kobel was their standout towards the Brazilian aspect, however the likes of Sehrou Guirassy (a game-low 27 touches in 90 minutes) and Julian Brandt (one shot astray and simply 27 accomplished passes in 77 minutes) have to step up.
For Sundowns, they will worry no workforce on this event having clogged the midfield and defended properly in numbers towards Ulsan HD of their 1-0 win. They’re going to be hoping ahead Iqraam Rayners can discover the online once more, too. — Tyler
Inter Milan vs. Urawa RD (Group E; Seattle, WA, 3 p.m. ET)
Odds: Inter Milan (-550), Draw (+550), Urawa RD (+1000)
It is not usually you get to see brothers competing for a similar place within the workforce, however that is the place Inter are heading into the conflict with Urawa Crimson Diamonds. With Marcus Thuram banged up and Mehdi Taremi caught in Tehran, Sebastiano Esposito (who began within the opener towards Monterrey) will compete together with his brother, Pio, for a spot alongside Lautaro Martínez in Inter’s beginning XI.
Sebastiano, who’s 22, was on mortgage at Empoli final season, scoring 9 targets. Francesco “Pio,” alternatively, is simply 19 and was on mortgage in Serie B, at Spezia, the place he scored 17 targets in main them to the playoffs. Each are very a lot central strikers, and each are Italy Beneath 21 internationals. (In case you are questioning, there is a third Esposito brother, Salvatore, however he is 24 and a midfielder and now not performs for Inter.) — Marcotti
Fluminense vs. Ulsan HD (Group F; East Rutherford, NJ, 6 p.m. ET)
Odds: Fluminense (-270), Draw (+400), Ulsan HD (+700)
Fluminense’s workrate was a continuing drawback for Dortmund of their opener and they’ll really feel unfortunate to not have taken all three factors, with Kobel’s double-save within the second half summing up such frustrations. But there’s a clear path to the spherical of 16 forward if they’ll maintain their nerve and present extra composure in entrance of internet: simply 5 pictures on body out of 14 complete is an inadequate return in event play.
For Ulsan, veteran midfielders Seung-Beom Ko and Woo-Younger Jung had been spectacular in sport one, however difference-maker Erick Farias must dwell as much as that tag within the ultimate third. — Tyler
River Plate vs. Monterrey (Group E; Pasadena, CA, 9 p.m. ET)
Odds: River Plate (+105), Draw (+240), Monterrey (+250)
Monterrey enters the second group stage match towards River Plate after a stunning 1-1 draw towards Inter Milan with a objective from none apart from Sergio Ramos. Now, the Liga MX giants will want Ramos to be sharp on set items whereas attacking duo Lucas Ocampos and German Berterame shine within the ultimate third to maintain alive any hopes of qualifying to the knockout spherical.
Given outcomes to this point in Group E, the end result between Monterrey and River Plate may outline the 2 members that transfer on to the subsequent stage of the Membership World Cup. The Argentine workforce are prime after beating Urawa RD 3-1: Objectives from Maximiliano Meza, Sebastian Driussi and Facundo Colidio gave River Plate a cushty edge in terms of advancing, however the workforce can’t afford to depend on one good end result to get the job performed. — Becherano
