Brazilians at the Club World Cup: last 16 expectations 🆚

The knockout stage of the FIFA Club World Cup is approaching.

Brazilian football continues with its four representatives and will have at least one among the top eight.

See below how Botafogo, Flamengo, Fluminense, and Palmeiras have performed so far.

And, also, an analysis of all the round of 16 matches.

Starting “only” with Verdão 🆚 Glorioso.

📸 Harry How – 2025 Getty Images

The group leadership was palpable after the victory over PSG.

Glorioso finished second, but showed strength in the “group of death”.

They were not dominant for 90 minutes against Seattle, but compensated by having a notable performance without the ball against the current Champions League champion. And they showed lethality when they attacked.

The performance against Atleti was not the best.

They were also pressured. But without as much organization. And they did not show the same competence in attack. Leaving valuable lessons.

📸 David Ramos – 2025 Getty Images

The classification + early leadership came at the end of the second round.

The turnaround against Chelsea was proof of the strength of a team that likes to be the protagonist.

And that had already done its part against Esperánce.

Filipe Luís did what was necessary: he preserved against Los Angeles. And the 100% were not celebrated thanks to the crossbar and the post.

The expectation is for FL’s choices to face a higher-level rival.

📸 ANGELA WEISS – AFP or licensors

The start was more than positive despite the zero score against Borussia Dortmund. The draw ended up being a “bad” result due to the tricolor production.

Then came the match against Ulsan and a turnaround with a high dose of drama, making clear the need for a more focused team without the ball.

The draw – with moments of tension – against Mamelodi highlighted another need: to find more alternatives when in possession.

Fluminense had less of the ball and only posed real danger twice. Arias continues to be overloaded. There is still a lack of competence from the chosen number 9 to start.

📸 ANGELA WEISS – AFP or licensors

The debut in the competition was encouraging, with a good performance against Porto. From there, however, the team regressed.

The hot climate may even help explain the poor performance against Al-Ahly, but it does not justify what happened on the field against Inter Miami.

Palmeiras watched Lionel Messi and company exchange passes for a good part of the time and created little offensively until the reaction that resulted in the draw at the end.

The team continues to risk many crosses to the area, but they rarely result in real goal danger.

Individually, Estevão can finish the plays better (often created by himself). But the team in general can also put the boy in better conditions to shine.

1 PM – Palmeiras x Botafogo – Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia

Such a duel guarantees at least one Brazilian team among the top eight.

And it will reinforce a confrontation that has become an attraction since 2023.

The expectation is for a match marked by balance. And that can be decided by the individual brilliance of several athletes.

5 PM – Benfica x Chelsea – Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte

The Portuguese team’s mission was to beat Bayern to depend only on itself.

They saw their goalkeeper make all the difference and advanced as the leader.

They handled pressure well from the first round, as they saw Boca open 2 x 0 and sought the draw in stoppage time.

The mission is to show an organized team without the ball from the start. And take advantage of opportunities in a game that tends to be balanced.

Chelsea will have another heavyweight test in the United States after not being “approved” against Flamengo.

Enzo Maresca’s goal is to ensure a more balanced and competent team when they have the ball against a qualified rival.

1 PM – PSG x Inter Miami – Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta

The PSG that combined dominance with lethality against Atlético de Madrid was lacking against Botafogo, when it was not competent and suffered against an organized rival.

The “homework” of Luis Enrique’s charges tends to be knowing how to find spaces against a rival that will bet more on counterattacks.

Messi & Co. made it to the knockout stage after highs and lows.

They are the underdogs of the duel, even though they have the aforementioned Messi.

A possible qualification goes through a great day of their star-studded veterans.

5 PM – Flamengo x Bayern Munich – Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens

Flamengo ended up “punished” after leading their group. They will face a Bayern that dosed strength in the last round of the group stage and was frustrated by Trubin, Benfica’s goalkeeper.

Filipe Luís’s mission is to make Rubro-Negro not abandon its characteristics and try to have the ball to, then, attack.

The behavior of Flamengo without the ball, often praised, will have its great test against a team with a great appetite.

Highlight, for example, for Olise. Who only reinforces a first great season in the German giant. He did not feel the weight of the Bavarian shirt after leaving Palace.

4 PM – Inter Milan x Fluminense – Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte

The finalist of the last Champions League is another team that was gearing up during the group stage.

Even because it has a new coaching staff and comes from a season with three runners-up: Champions, Serie A and Italian Super Cup.

They are fighting a “battle” with the physical and mental in the United States.

The advantage is having a lot of talent – even though they have lost valuable options due to physical problems.

Fluminense, on the other hand, left the fans worried after the highlighted performance against BVB.

The chance of qualification goes through the return of Thiago Silva, more highlighted performances from their midfielders and more objectivity from the number 9 who will play.

10 PM – Manchester City x Al-Hilal – Camping World Stadium, Orlando

City arrives as the absolute favorite.

Guardiola did tests, preserved starters and, against Juventus, the performance caught the eye.

It is a team that tends to suffocate Al-Hilal and still has a great advantage due to the quality it has on the bench.

Simone Inzaghi’s big problem will be precisely when she needs to make substitutions, as the level drops a lot.

4 PM – Real Madrid x Juventus – Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens

Real was gearing up in the competition. Even because it is a new job, that of Xabi Alonso, who is getting used to the club again – this time in another function.

The probable presence of Mbappé – who has not yet played – reinforces the favoritism of a more balanced team. Even though it suffers without the ball.

Juventus passed as they wanted through the weaker rivals in their group.

But they suffered a lot when they faced City. They were involved in almost the entire game, showing difficulty to start playing.

Igor Tudor preserved Francisco Conceição and Kolo Muani, who tend to return in a more than decisive match. Raising the level of the attack.

A good performance will go through the way the team behaves without the ball.

They lost the promising Nicolò Savona, who was diagnosed with a left ankle injury. Which can guarantee Bremer’s return to the defense.

10 PM – Borussia Dortmund x Monterrey – Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta

BVB has not shown great football so far.

They had difficulties without the ball against Fluminense, suffered against Mamelodi and scored only one goal against Ulsan.

They will face another different school to seek the round of 16. And with the obligation to be more competent when attacking.

Qualified without defeat in a difficult group, Monterrey arrives as “underdog”. But it strengthened by showing good work with and without the ball.

Having several athletes with experience in European football is a great advantage.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

📸 FRANCK FIFE – AFP or licensors