Joao Pedro Does It Again! Chelsea Now Leads 2-0

Joao Pedro Enforces the “Ex Rule” and Puts Chelsea Ahead!

Fluminense and Chelsea will face off this Tuesday, July 8, at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, New York. Kickoff is set for 3:00 PM ET / 12:00 PM PT, with French referee François Letexier in charge of the action.

Fluminense’s preview

The Brazilian side has shown that South American football is still a force to be reckoned with. Fluminense reached this stage after finishing second in Group F, and since then, they’ve pulled off two high-profile wins.

In the Round of 16, they stunned Europe’s runner-up Inter Milan with a convincing 2-0 victory. Then, in the quarterfinals, they took down surprise package Al-Hilal with a 2-1 scoreline, confirming their status as one of the tournament’s most dangerous teams. Keep an eye on Colombian midfielder Jhon Arias, a key playmaker for the Tricolor.

Chelsea’s preview

On the other side, Chelsea are taking this Club World Cup seriously. They advanced as second place in Group D, but since the knockout rounds began, they’ve looked sharp, focused and ruthless.

First, they crushed Benfica 4-1 in the Round of 16, then edged out Palmeiras 2-1 in the quarters. The standout for the Blues has been Brazilian star Pedro Neto, who’s already scored 3 goals and is eager to shine on home soil—against a team from his home country.

Key players to watch

Fluminense will need to weather the storm early and survive Chelsea’s initial pressure. Tactical discipline and ball control will be crucial if they want to keep the South American dream alive.

Chelsea, meanwhile, will aim to assert their physicality and depth. The message is clear: Europe still wants to prove its dominance on the global stage—and this semifinal is the perfect chance to do it.