Eight teams from three continents are set to compete for the revamped FIFA Club World Cup trophy as the tournament reaches its business end and the second stage of the knockout phase. After thrilling matches, major upsets, and close encounters in the round of 16, the quarterfinal lineup is complete with Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund sealing their spots.
The quarterfinals feature four European powerhouses, a Middle Eastern club looking to build on their success, and two Brazilian teams aiming to represent South America.
3Sports provides a detailed analysis of what to expect in the quarterfinals.
Al Hilal vs Fluminense
The quarter finals begins on Friday at the Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Florida where Brazilian side Fluminense will be up against the tournament’s most impressive team thus far Al Hilal.
Emotions will run high and the stands will be replete with colour and noise when one of Brazil’s oldest football clubs, Fluminense, take on Saudi Arabia’s football giants Al Hilal at the 65,000-capacity venue in Florida.
Al Hilal will ride on the high of beating former champions Manchester City 4-3 in an extra-time thriller in one of the biggest upsets in the tournament’s history on Tuesday.
The Saudi Arabia outfit has been impressive in the tournament right from their first match against the competitions most decorated club Real Madrid after sharing spoils with the Madrid based club.
Unbeaten in the competition they would be aiming to build on their fine form.
On their way is a formidable team from South America Fluminense who got the better of champions league finalists Inter Milan.
Fluminense achieved similar success as they ousted Italian giants and UEFA Champions League finalists Inter Milan in a 2-0 win.
Palmeiras vs Chelsea
Palmeiras, the second Brazilian club to make the quarterfinals, will face the former English champions Chelsea in Friday’s second knockout to be held in Philadelphia.
Runners-up in the Brazilian top-flight last season, Palmeiras beat compatriots Botafogo in a heated clash in the round of 16 and have been one of the strongest defensive lineups in the tournament.
Their opponents, who won the Club World Cup in 2021, will look to build on their Conference League success and enter the business end of the competition for a chance to finish the season with a second trophy.
The winner will face the team that emerges victorious from the Al Hilal vs Fluminense match in the first semifinal.
Bayern Munich vs PSG
At the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia will be the headline match of the round between Germain champions Bayern Munich and French Champions Paris Saint German.
Arguably, the biggest clash of the quarterfinals pits two of the three title favourites remaining in the competition.
A win over German giants Bayern will consolidate European champions PSG‘s pedigree as one of the biggest clubs in the world and offer the Paris-based side a chance to complete a sensational season quadruple.
Bayern are the joint top goal-scoring team in the competition, with 16 goals in their four games so far, but their attack will be tested against the French champions at the 75,000-capacity stadium in Georgia.
The Bavarians will be hoping to make amends in their disappointing performance in the champions league last season where they were eliminated from the competition by Inter Milan.
Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund
The final quarterfinal match features a rematch of the 2024 UEFA Champions League final between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
With Kylian Mbappe returning to the fold, Real Madrid will hope to recapture their scoring form against a talented Dortmund team.
The winner of this blockbuster fixture will face the winner of the PSG-Bayern match in the semifinals.
The FIFA Club World Cup quarterfinals are set to deliver thrilling matches, showcasing the best of European, South American, and Middle Eastern football. With top teams vying for a spot in the semifinals, the stakes are high, and the excitement is palpable. Who will emerge victorious and take one step closer to lifting the trophy? The world will be watching as these elite clubs battle it out on the biggest stage.
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