Frank Christian
Chelsea faced a significant setback against Flamengo in Philadelphia, casting doubts on their chances in the FIFA Club World Cup.
Pedro Neto gave Enzo Mareaca’s squad an unexpected lead at Lincoln Financial Field, and they held onto a 1-0 advantage at halftime.
However, they faltered under the relentless second-half pressure from the Brazilian team.
Flamengo’s coach, Filipe Luis—who had a brief stint at Stamford Bridge and won the Premier League in the 2014/15 season—saw his substitutes Bruno Henrique and Wallace Yan find the net, sandwiching a goal by Danilo that put Mengao ahead in the 65th minute.
To worsen the situation, Nicolas Jackson was dismissed shortly after Flamengo took the lead for a dangerous challenge. The 3-1 loss has serious repercussions for Chelsea’s pathway to qualification.
How can Chelsea advance to the Round of 16 in the Club World Cup?
Chelsea currently has three points thanks to an initial 2-0 victory against LAFC, keeping their fate within their hands.
A draw or win against Esperance de Tunis in their last group fixture will guarantee their progression.
Flamengo AMAZES Chelsea!!
Catch the action on @FIFACWC | June 14 – July 13 | All Matches | Free | | #FIFACWC #TakeItToTheWorld #FLACHE pic.twitter.com/JfVDeHe6To
— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) June 20, 2025
Nonetheless, the UEFA Conference League champions can only move forward as runners-up from Group D since tiebreakers prioritize the outcomes from matches between the tied teams.
Therefore, even if Chelsea defeats ES Tunis and LAFC manages to upset Flamengo, they would still finish behind the Brazilians due to head-to-head results, despite any possible goal difference advantage. With Flamengo’s own 2-0 victory over Esperance securing their top spot in the group.
This situation suggests a possible Round of 16 clash against Bayern Munich, unless Benfica surprises everyone by defeating the Bundesliga champions in their last Group C match.
Esperance’s 1-0 win over LAFC means the American side has been eliminated, and a draw against the Tunisians will also see Chelsea through because they possess a better goal difference than their opponents in matchday three.
In short, securing a win or at least a draw against Esperance ensures Chelsea’s advancement as runners-up behind Flamengo, while a loss would send them packing.
