Palmeiras are through to the quarterfinals of the 2026 FIFA Club World Cup after a hard-fought 1–0 win over Botafogo, the reigning Copa Libertadores champions. The match was decided in extra time, with Paulinho netting the only goal in the 100th minute at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. Abel Ferreira’s team controlled most of the game but had to wait until overtime to finally break through. The win also ended a long winless streak against their Brazilian rivals, dating back to November 2023.

Palmeiras will now face the winner of Benfica vs. Chelsea, another round-of-16 matchup. The Portuguese side recently drew 2–2 with Boca Juniors, while the English club is coming off a 3–1 loss to Flamengo in the group stage — raising doubts about their form against South American teams. Either way, it’s a big test for the Brazilian side.

How did the match go down?

It was a tight and physical game, short on clear-cut chances. Palmeiras were more proactive, with Estêvão and Vitor Roque posing the biggest threats, but solid goalkeeping from John Victor and poor finishing kept things scoreless. In the second half, Ferreira turned to his bench, and that’s when the breakthrough came: sub Paulinho scored with a rocket from outside the box. Botafogo, meanwhile, played it safe and only started to push forward in the dying minutes.

Things got even more dramatic when Gustavo Gómez was sent off in the 116th minute, forcing Palmeiras to finish the game with ten men. Still, they held firm against Botafogo’s last-ditch attacks. It was a bitter end for the Rio club, especially after their high from beating PSG in the group stage.

Paulinho’s goal didn’t just seal the win — it sent the 33,000-plus fans in the stadium into a frenzy. His impact off the bench showed the depth of Palmeiras' squad, which remains unbeaten in the tournament and is dreaming of lifting the trophy in this new Club World Cup format.

With confidence high after a gritty win, Palmeiras await the result of Benfica vs. Chelsea. No matter who they face, the Verdão have proven they can go toe-to-toe with the best — even if their attack still needs sharpening. Now it’s about keeping that momentum alive in the quarters.