The 2025 FIFA Membership World Cup is off and operating, 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 often for the most recent information as we observe the enjoyable main as much as the event ultimate at MetLife Stadium on July 13.
The lead: Delap on scoresheet as Chelsea advance to final 16
That is exactly the kind of sample Liam Delap is hoping to interrupt. Chelsea had been main however laboring within the stifling Philadelphia warmth towards Espérance de Tunis on Tuesday earlier than their new £30 million striker took his probability to wrap up second place in Group D and secure passage to the spherical of 16.
Moments after Tosin Adarabioyo’s header had given Chelsea the lead in first-half stoppage time, Delap collected a ball clipped ahead by Enzo Fernández earlier than dropping his shoulder, chopping inside on his proper foot and rolling the ball into the web. The defending was poor, however Delap’s medical end settled what needed to that time been a considerably nervous show, given defeat at Lincoln Monetary Area would have despatched Chelsea crashing out of the Membership World Cup.
They’d created just a few openings and managed the play — registering 75% possession within the first half — however had been unable to press dwelling that benefit. Again and again, this has been Chelsea’s undoing.
Delap made certain the story was completely different this time and his first objective for the membership — on his third look — was the pivotal second in a 3-0 win and comes at a very opportune second.
Earlier within the day, Chelsea realized that FIFA had determined to increase Nicolas Jackson’s suspension for his purple card towards Flamengo from the necessary one sport to 2. Meaning he may even miss Saturday’s round-of-16 conflict towards Benfica in Charlotte, and it’ll give Delap one other alternative to stake his declare as their foremost ahead when the 2025-26 marketing campaign begins in August.
The competitors between Jackson and Delap is shut, however there may be little doubt who has the momentum proper now. He turned a tough night right into a routine one, and that, in essence, is the job.
Chelsea had been sufficiently comfy to take Delap off within the 59th minute with Benfica in thoughts, and the two-goal margin right here additionally masked one other night the place supervisor Enzo Maresca tried to stability the seemingly incompatible twin goals of making an attempt to win this competitors and experimenting for subsequent season.
Maresca made eight modifications to the group that misplaced to Flamengo, with Cole Palmer, Reece James, Levi Colwill, Marc Cucurella, Moisés Caicedo, Pedro Neto, Trevoh Chalobah, and Robert Sánchez all among the many substitutes.
This was largely because of fatigue inside the squad and a need to prioritize the usage of contemporary legs, given Maresca’s pre-match admission that the group may barely prepare amid sweltering temperatures which hit 100F for the primary time in 13 years earlier on Tuesday.
Simply as towards Flamengo, Maresca tried one thing completely different with Malo Gusto inverting from left again, Noni Madueke on the left wing, and Romeo Lavia performing as a sole midfield pivot with Fernandez and Christopher Nkunku each pushing on behind Delap.
There have been encouraging indicators, however Chelsea struggled to create a lot of notice till that sudden double salvo from Tosin and Delap.
Andrey Santos made his long-awaited aggressive debut, and Nkunku had the prospect to attain from the spot taken away when a penalty awarded for handball by Yassine Meriah was overturned on VAR evaluation.
Substitute Tyrique George added a late third with a low drive wherein Tunis goalkeeper Bechir Ben Saïd ought to have saved, however in impact, Chelsea had been largely operating down the clock on an evening when solely the consequence mattered.
They must be higher towards Benfica. But when Delap can proceed his promising begin, there’s each probability they are going to be. — James Olley
As we speak’s prime Membership World Cup information
• Miami’s unbeaten run units up CWC conflict with PSG
• Membership World Cup: How groups can attain final 16
• Chelsea’s Jackson handed two-match ban after purple
Sights and sounds round FIFA Membership World Cup
Di Maria, Benfica upset Bayern to prime Group C
CHARLOTTE — Ángel Di María is not prepared to depart Benfica simply but. The winger, 37, will head again to boyhood membership Rosario Central when this Membership World Cup is over. However that must wait, after Benfica’s 1-0 win over favorites Bayern Munich in Charlotte, North Carolina, confirmed their place within the final 16.
In 97-degree warmth — temperatures so excessive that Bayern determined to observe Borussia Dortmund in permitting their substitutes to observe the sport from the locker room — Di Maria rolled again the years. He was concerned within the transfer that put Benfica forward within the thirteenth minute, and far later, within the eightieth minute, there he was: tirelessly amassing the ball, holding off a defender’s problem, turning into house and shifting the play on, permitting his group to maintain possession.
Three minutes later, it was Di Maria calling on these countless reserves of vitality and chasing Bayern’s Michael Olise, harrying a participant 14 years his junior and pushing Olise, who had the ball, again to the midway line. That was the story of the sport: Bayern dominated, ending with 73% possession and extra photographs (13-7), crosses (20-3) and possibilities created (12-5). However Benfica had been ready to withstand.
When Di Maria was lastly substituted, within the 87th minute, he was on the far facet of the sector from the benches. It meant he needed to take the lengthy stroll across the fringe of the sector as play continued, saluting the Benfica followers inside Financial institution of America Stadium as he went.
Di Maria wasn’t their solely star. Goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin, 23, made 4 vital saves and was named participant of the match. Captain Nicolás Otamendi — additionally 37 — and his center-back companion António Silva, 21, made 20 clearances between them. Bayern, regardless of throwing on Harry Kane, Olise and Joshua Kimmich at halftime, had been annoyed.
In added time, as Kane headed simply huge on the close to publish, it was Otamendi who rose with him, throwing himself to the bottom to earn a free kick. The Argentine’s teammates celebrated it like a objective. Moments later, on the full-time whistle, Otamendi embraced Silva, then Trubin. Benfica’s mix of youth and expertise had executed sufficient.
“The climate was extraordinarily scorching,” Trubin stated afterward. “I am so drained, I do not really feel nothing. I simply wish to relaxation.” He can relaxation till Saturday, when Benfica play subsequent. Topping Group C, ending unbeaten on seven factors, means they will face Group D’s runners-up. Bayern, who made themselves event favorites once they beat Auckland 10-0, needed to accept second place. — Alex Kirkland
Flamengo go unbeaten of their group, however now face more durable opposition in knockout stage
ORLANDO — Flamengo seem like a group that would conceivably win the Membership World Cup, however they will must do it the laborious means.
After ending prime of Group D forward of Chelsea — regardless of a 1-1 draw with LAFC at Tenting World Stadium on Tuesday — their reward is a spherical of 16 match towards Bayern Munich in Miami on Sunday.
In the event that they win that, their quarterfinal is prone to be towards European champions Paris Saint-Germain, who play Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami of their spherical of 16 match. They could not have picked a more durable path to the semifinals.
Flamengo, sitting prime of their home championship in Brazil, introduced themselves as a real contender for the trophy with their 3-1 win over Chelsea. However Enzo Maresca may suppose now that one thing optimistic has come from the defeat, along with his group scheduled to play Benfica within the second spherical earlier than a potential quarterfinal towards both Palmeiras or Botafogo.
Flamengo boss Filipe Luís won’t be too involved concerning the draw with LAFC.
He made seven modifications to the group that beat Chelsea they usually nonetheless ought to have gained comfortably. They hit the woodwork 4 occasions earlier than Denis Bouanga opened the scoring for LAFC within the 84th minute.
The Brazilian followers, who made the sport in Orlando really feel prefer it was being performed in Rio, lastly bought one thing to shout about when Wallace bought a deserved equalizer two minutes later. — Rob Dawson
Auckland scores a objective
A lot has been fabricated from the Membership World Cup’s sole newbie group and Oceania representatives Auckland Metropolis for his or her off-field tales reasonably than their on-field play, however their ultimate Group C sport yielded a objective and one thing significant (along with the participation cash) to take again to New Zealand.
52′ AUCKLAND CITY SCORE THEIR FIRST GOAL OF THE FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP!!! 🇳🇿
Watch the @FIFACWC | June 14 – July 13 | Each Sport | Free | https://t.co/i0K4eUtwwb | #FIFACWC #TakeItToTheWorld #AKLBOC pic.twitter.com/a9AHuYcJzR
— DAZN Soccer (@DAZNFootball) June 24, 2025
The objective got here as so many underdogs’ do — through a set piece, with Jerson Lagos’ outswinging nook discovering the noggin of central defender Christian Grey, who steered a header past the diving Agustin Marchesin. Within the grand scheme of issues, the objective did nothing to vary the trajectory of Group C — Benfica’s 1-0 win over Bayern Munich took care of any drama, with Boca Juniors eradicated by that consequence — as issues in Nashville had been delayed for practically an hour because of opposed climate.
Grey will return to his day job in Auckland as a trainer — he needed to be permitted for break day work with the intention to swimsuit up for the Navy Blues — Jerson Lagos will return to his part-time barber gig and the Membership World Cup will tick over, however we’ll all the time have that objective, and their delirious celebrations, to replicate on after a memorable event. — James Tyler
Goodbye, Boca Juniors
NASHVILLE — Boca Juniors, with maybe essentially the most vibrant fan base within the group stage of the FIFA Membership World Cup, stated goodbye to the event after a 1-1 draw of their ultimate match towards Auckland Metropolis.
Nashville welcomed the Argentine group with a temperature of 91 levels Fahrenheit (33 levels Celsius). Though they needed to win the match, in addition they needed to hope for a Bayern Munich victory over Benfica, which by no means got here, because the Portuguese group gained 1-0. The consequence was watched by the Xeneizes followers on the screens at Geodis Park, whereas their group’s sport was suspended for 45 minutes because of a risk of a thunderstorm.
Regardless of the dangerous information of Benfica’s victory, the Boca Juniors followers by no means stopped cheering. — José Muñoz, ESPN Mexico
Flamengo prepared for matchup towards Bayern
As Flamengo put together for a heavyweight conflict towards German powerhouse Bayern Munich, a few of the gamers sit up for the match forward of them as they give the impression of being to progress within the Membership World Cup as true contenders.
“We managed to qualify in first place and stay undefeated,” stated defender Alex Sandro to CazéTV. “That is nice for entering into the following spherical with excessive confidence. [Bayern?] We all know how robust they’re and the gamers they’ve. However we additionally know what now we have to do.
“Our sport plan would not change. Taking part in towards Bayern has all the time been nice. Taking part in towards massive groups, in a means, helps us put together higher. It is an amazing alternative to see what degree we’re at immediately. And the extent will improve 100%, each for them and for us.”
“It is a group [Bayern] that is used to profitable and enjoying nice matches,” stated defender Danilo to SporTV.
“I’ve confronted them just a few occasions in my life, and I do know precisely what sort of group we will face. I additionally performed with their coach [Vincent Kompany] at Manchester Metropolis, and he was my captain.
He is a man who calls for dedication and depth from his gamers. That is the way it was when he was Metropolis’s captain, and that is how he’s as a coach, and he takes care of each element. For us to get by means of the following spherical, we’ll should be at our greatest as soon as once more, enjoying with a number of synergy. As we have proven, now we have each probability of getting by means of.” — Roberto Rojas
Monterrey’s Sergio Ramos and Sergio Canales prepare with group
PASADENA — Sergio Ramos, Johan Rojas and Sergio Canales educated alongside their teammates forward of Wednesday’s match towards Urawa Crimson Diamonds, their final sport of the group stage within the Membership World Cup, with the potential for getting a ticket for the knockout part.
Canales hasn’t been at his prime degree all through the event, and sources informed ESPN that the Spanish participant is coping with a harm within the thigh. He will probably be a game-time choice for the match, which will probably be held on the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.
Ramos, a former Spain nationwide group defender, did not take part in joint workout routines the earlier days, however he labored alongside his teammates on Tuesday. — Ricardo Cariño, ESPN Mexico
1:09
Burley: Do not choose groups on Membership World Cup efficiency
Craig Burley explains why you possibly can’t use the Membership World Cup to find out which sides are stronger than others.
Star participant of the day
Grey’s objective for Auckland will probably be remembered
There’s just one identify stealing the headlines immediately on the Membership World Cup: Christian Grey, the person who simply may grow to be the good trainer at his college when he returns dwelling to New Zealand.
Grey’s towering header for Auckland Metropolis towards Boca Juniors goalkeeper Agustín Marchesín did not simply give the OFC facet their first and solely objective of the event, but it surely secured a shocking 1-1 draw with the South American giants and capped their journey on a excessive notice.
Sure, Auckland conceded 17 targets in three video games. However Grey’s second will probably be remembered not only for denying Boca their very own Music Metropolis Miracle in Nashville and a spot within the spherical of 16, however for symbolizing the allure of a semi-professional facet standing tall amongst world giants like Bayern Munich and Benfica.
Some of the heartwarming tales of this Membership World Cup belongs to Auckland and particularly for Grey. — Rojas
Match previews, odds for Wednesday
Borussia Dortmund vs. Ulsan HD (Group F; Cincinnati, Ohio, 3 p.m. ET)
Odds (through ESPN BET): Borussia Dortmund (-600), Draw (+600), Ulsan HD (+1000)
The truth that Dortmund are in place to advance from Group F is considerably lucky contemplating their bumpy, chaotic Membership World Cup thus far. First, that they had a 0-0 draw with Fluminense wherein they wanted Gregor Kobel’s heroics between the posts to protect a degree. Then there was a 4-3 win over Mamelodi Sundowns wherein Niko Kovac’s facet raced to a 4-1 lead after an hour after which white-knuckled their option to a win wherein they had been outshot, outdone in possession and outmatched within the xG battle (2.74-1.72). And but, in the event that they full enterprise towards an Ulsan HD facet that is already eradicated, they will arrange a date with both (we expect) River Plate or Inter Milan within the spherical of 16.
Serhou Guirassy opened his Membership World Cup account towards Mamelodi and may thrive once more right here if he is in a position to get constant service from Jobe Bellingham, who remains to be getting used to his new environment. (Julian Brandt additionally must be an even bigger determine for this group within the ultimate third, however they have loads of time to determine it out.) We anticipate a cushty Dortmund win and one other massive European facet within the last-16, however this event has proven a capability to shock. — Tyler
Mamelodi Sundowns vs. Fluminense (Group F; Miami, Fla., 3 p.m. ET)
Odds: Mamelodi Sundowns (+300), Draw (+260), Fluminense (-115)
Fluminense host Mamelodi Sundowns of their ultimate group stage match at Laborious Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
The Brazilian giants at the moment lead the Group F standings with 4 factors and a objective distinction of plus-2 after a 0-0 draw towards Borussia Dortmund and a 4-2 victory over Ulsan HD. Although a triumph on Wednesday afternoon towards Sundowns would guarantee qualification to the spherical of 16, the highest slot of the group is determined by the outcomes of the ultimate spherical of matches.
Dortmund additionally at the moment boast 4 factors after a victory and a draw, however they sit in second place because of their objective distinction of plus-1. Ought to the German group beat Ulsan HD by extra targets than Fluminense rating on Sundowns, the Brazilian facet would qualify in second place.
However Mamelodi Sundowns won’t make it straightforward for Fluminense, as a victory may see the group by means of to the following spherical of the Membership World Cup. The South African group beat Ulsan to tally three factors and enter the ultimate spherical with hopes of advancing. — Lizzy Becherano
Inter Milan vs. River Plate (Group E; Seattle, Wash., 9 p.m. ET)
Odds: Inter Milan (+130), Draw (+175), River Plate (+280)
Inter had been the oldest facet in Europe’s Massive 5 leagues final season by weighted minutes. That can probably change subsequent season, and we’re getting glimpses of it within the Membership World Cup. Cristian Chivu has an extended historical past working with kids, and at Parma final season, he labored with one of many youngest sides in all of Europe. From the Esposito brothers (Pio and Sebastiano, who will probably be competing for a beginning spot alongside Lautaro Martínez) to Valentin Carboni, who notched the winner towards Urawa (after lacking practically all of 2024-25 by means of harm), the Nerazzurri have quite a lot of gifted younger gamers prepared for his or her shot.
That stated, essentially the most coveted younger participant on show will probably be turning out for River Plate. Actual Madrid-bound Franco Mastantuono is already drawing comparisons with Lamine Yamal (he is really a bit youthful), and whereas he is nonetheless uncooked, the sense of chance each time he will get the ball is palpable. — Gab Marcotti
Urawa Crimson Diamonds vs. Monterrey (Group E; Pasadena, Calif., 9 p.m. ET)
Odds: Urawa Crimson Diamonds (+300), Draw (+270), Monterrey (-120)
The J.League facet are strictly enjoying for delight after two defeats from two video games in Seattle, taking a brief jaunt south to tackle Liga MX champions Monterrey on the hallowed Rose Bowl. They’d a mere 18% possession in a 2-1 defeat vs. Inter Milan wherein they held a 1-0 lead till the ultimate 12 minutes, and had been outclassed by a River Plate facet that had tenacity, expertise and Actual Madrid-bound Franco Mastantuono. Monterrey have an amazing probability to win and buck the pattern of Concacaf groups going dwelling early, however they will want to attain: A repeat of their efficiency vs. Inter — simply 4 photographs heading in the right direction and a sole Sergio Ramos headed objective — merely will not be sufficient. Coach Domènec Torrent will probably be hoping his largest inventive supply, Sergio Canales, has recovered in time from harm to characteristic. — Tyler
