The 2025 Club World Cup has entered its quarter-final stages, transforming from a tournament that initially lacked buzz into one that has gradually captured the hearts of football fans worldwide.
What began as a competition with minimal anticipation has evolved into a thrilling spectacle, particularly following the elimination of several football powerhouses in surprising upsets.
Underdogs Create Major Upsets
"The Round of 16 absolutely rocked the football world," Nwosu Michael Izuchukwu, a podcaster and digital marketer, tells BenriNews. "A lot of pundits and football creatives thought it was going to be straightforward and easy to call those games but it sure wasn't."
Saudi Arabian champions Al-Hilal produced one of the tournament's biggest shocks by eliminating Manchester City in a thrilling 4-3 encounter. Similarly, Brazilian side Fluminense outclassed Champions League finalists Inter Milan to advance to the quarter-finals.
"We all thought 350 million would fix Pep's Man City but boy, were we wrong," Izuchukwu remarked. "Inter Milan who were praised for their discipline and energy levels in their run to the Champions League final couldn't keep up with the intensity from that Fluminense side."
Other notable upsets included Benfica defeating Bayern Munich in the group stages and Flamengo securing a victory over Chelsea.
FIFA's Vision Vindicated
The quarter-final clash between Fluminense and Al-Hilal has been viewed as a significant win for FIFA, who had defended the competitiveness of teams selected for this expanded tournament format.
When asked if the match represented a victory for FIFA, Izuchukwu agreed: "I think it is. Maybe Cristiano Ronaldo was right when he spoke about the level of competition in the Saudi League, only for the winners of the said league to get knocked out by the 13th placed team in the Brazilian league."
"This is why we love this sport. This is what it's all about when you really think about it. So yes, I think it's a win for FIFA," he added.
Chelsea's Narrow Escape
Chelsea needed an 83rd-minute own goal to overcome Palmeiras 2-1 and secure their place in the semi-finals, where they will face Fluminense.
Describing the match, Izuchukwu said: "You ever watch a match that feels like a pressure cooker from kickoff to full-time? That was Chelsea vs Palmeiras tonight."
"Palmeiras didn't just come to play; they came to bruise egos. But when you're Chelsea, you dig deep. And tonight, they did just enough," he continued.
The match took a dramatic turn when Estêvão equalized for Palmeiras in the 53rd minute, but Chelsea managed to secure victory through a chaotic corner kick situation in the 83rd minute that resulted in an own goal.
"They're through to the semi-final. That's the headline. Against Fluminense next, but let's be real: tonight wasn't pretty," Izuchukwu concluded.
As the tournament progresses to its final stages, football fans worldwide are eagerly anticipating more unexpected twists and turns that have made this expanded Club World Cup a compelling spectacle.
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