Club World Cup upsets continue as Flamengo topples powerhouse Chelsea

USA Today

4 hours ago

Brazilian clubs have made the biggest splash in the FIFA Club World Cup with Flamengo's victory coming on the heels of of Botafogo's shocking defeat of Paris Saint-Germain.
The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup has not gone according to plan for some of European soccer's biggest clubs, with Brazilian side Flamengo stunning Chelsea 3-1 on Friday, June 20, providing the latest example.
Before a raucous, pro-Flamengo crowd of 54,619 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, the Brazilian club came from a goal down to provide the latest surprise at the Club World Cup, striking three times in the second half to jump to the top of Group D. The upset came one day after another Brazilian team, Botafogo, shocked the world by taking down UEFA Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain 1-0.
It didn't seem like this game would follow the script of Thursday's shocking result. Neto put Chelsea ahead in the 13th minute after a defensive blunder from Flamengo that could have caused the Brazilian side to lose belief.
Instead, a wild six-minute spell in the second half changed everything. First, Bruno Henrique pounced for a 62nd-minute equalizer, and Flamengo nosed in front three minutes later thanks to an acrobatic finish from veteran Brazilian national team defender Danilo.
If that served to stagger Chelsea, the English side's fortunes went into a tailspin in the 68th minute, as striker Nicolas Jackson received a straight red card for stomping on the foot of Flamengo defender Ayrton Lucas. Young striker Wallace Yan then completed Chelsea's misery in the 83rd minute, powering a close-range shot past goalkeeper Robert Sánchez.
The upset victory left Flamengo – widely regarded as Brazil's most popular soccer team – at the top of Group D with six points, with Chelsea three points behind. MLS's LAFC and Tunisian side Espérance Sportive de Tunis played later on Friday, June 20 in Nashville, and a win for either side would draw them level on points with one of European soccer's giants with one round of games to play.
CLUB WORLD CUP: Win, draw or lose, Inter Miami could reach knockout stage
Flamengo vs. Chelsea Club World Cup highlights
Club World Cup: Brazilian teams, Inter Miami notch early upset wins
Most soccer experts felt that the massive spending advantage for Europe's biggest teams would be insurmountable at the Club World Cup, which draws teams from every one of the six confederations that govern soccer in each continent.
However, the reality has been far different. Whether it's the oppressive heat that most games have been played in, the timing of the tournament coming in what is normally the early weeks of the European offseason, or a pack of hungry underdogs eager to prove themselves, the Club World Cup has been very competitive thus far.
Brazilian clubs have made the biggest splash. Flamengo's win over Chelsea is a stunning outcome, while Botafogo's defeat of PSG – who less than three weeks ago crushed Inter Milan 5-0 in the the UEFA Champions League final, and who opened the Club World Cup by demolishing Atlético Madrid 4-0 – is nothing short of a monumental shock.
These aren't isolated incidents, either. Another Brazilian side, Palmeiras, held Portuguese powerhouse Porto to a 0-0 draw earlier in the tournament, while the nation's fourth representative Fluminense came up with the same scoreline against German giant Borussia Dortmund. Thus far, Brazil's contingent has gone unbeaten, winning five times and picking up two ties.
Lionel Messi and Inter Miami joined the fun as well, producing what is arguably the biggest international win in MLS history by downing Porto 2-1 on Thursday. That victory unsurprisingly came thanks in large part to a glorious, game-winning free kick from Messi.
Elsewhere, Benfica (Portugal's other entrant) needed a late comeback to secure a 2-2 draw with iconic Argentine club Boca Juniors, and Mexican team Monterrey secured a 1-1 draw with Italy's Inter Milan. Mighty Real Madrid, long considered a tournament specialist, started their Club World Cup off with a disappointing 1-1 draw with Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal.
Club World Cup 2025: How to watch, TV, streaming
Every one of the 63 games at the Club World Cup will stream for free on DAZN, while select matches will be carried on TBS, TNT and truTV in English.
Univision, TUDN, and ViX will all carry games in the U.S. in Spanish.
Watch the entire Club World Cup FREE on DAZN