The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup delivered its first major upsets in the Round of 16, with Manchester City and Inter Milan—two European powerhouses—crashing out in dramatic fashion. The tournament, hosted across the United States, has already lived up to its billing as the most competitive edition yet.
Stunning Exits: Inter & City Sent Packing
- Inter Milan 0–2 Fluminense
At the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, Brazilian side Fluminense stunned Inter with a clinical performance. Goals from Germán Cano and Jhon Arias sealed the win, exposing Inter’s defensive frailties and ending their campaign prematurely. - Manchester City 3–4 Al Hilal (AET)
In a pulsating clash at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia pulled off the tournament’s biggest upset. Despite City’s attacking firepower, Marco Leonardo’s extra-time winner capped a heroic performance by the Asian champions.
These results have reshaped the tournament narrative, proving that pedigree alone won’t guarantee progress in this expanded 32-team format.
Quarterfinal Fixtures (Kenyan Time – EAT)
Here’s the full timeline of the quarterfinals:
| Date & Time (EAT) | Fixture | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Friday, July 4 – 10:00 PM | Fluminense vs Al Hilal | Camping World Stadium, Orlando |
| Saturday, July 5 – 4:00 AM | Palmeiras vs Chelsea | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia |
| Saturday, July 5 – 7:00 PM | Paris Saint-Germain vs Bayern Munich | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta |
| Saturday, July 5 – 10:00 PM | Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund | MetLife Stadium, New Jersey |
With Fluminense and Al Hilal now facing off, one of these underdogs is guaranteed a semifinal spot—an outcome few would have predicted a week ago.
In my analysis, Chelsea have the easiest route to the final as shown in the fixture bracket below:
However PSG are tournament favourites followed by Real Madrid.
