Chelsea Faces Major Conflict of Interest as Club World Cup Final Path Emerges for 2025
Chelsea's journey at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup hasn't been entirely smooth, yet they've secured their spot in the tournament's knockout rounds.
A first-round triumph against Los Angeles FC provided a solid foundation, but a deeply frustrating and heated 3–1 loss to Flamengo in their second match put their Round of 16 qualification at risk. Thankfully, ES Tunis offered minimal challenge in Chelsea's concluding Group D fixture, with a commanding 3–0 win sealing their advancement.
The competition will become significantly more demanding for Enzo Maresca's team moving forward as they encounter higher-quality opponents, with the Blues already set to face formidable European rivals in the upcoming round.
Below is Chelsea's possible pathway to the Club World Cup championship match.
Chelsea Last 16 Opponents
Chelsea concluded Group D in second place following their setback against Flamengo on the second matchday, though this has turned out to be advantageous for the London club. Rather than confronting Bundesliga winners Bayern Munich, they'll meet Portuguese team Benfica in the Round of 16.
The Lisbon club will present a challenging obstacle having collected seven points during the group phase—including three against Bayern—with influential playmaker Ángel Di María expected to be crucial in breaking down the Blues' defense.
Nevertheless, Chelsea will enter as clear favorites against Benfica, whom they last encountered in the 2012–13 Europa League final. The Blues claimed victory in that encounter and maintain an unblemished record across three previous meetings.
Chelsea's Potential Quarter-Final Opponents
Chelsea's quarter-final opposition remains undetermined, though they're certain to face Brazilian competition. The Blues will meet the victor of the Round of 16 encounter between Palmeiras and Botafogo—assuming the English club advances to the quarter-finals—with the latter demonstrating their quality by defeating European champions Paris Saint-Germain in group play.
They might encounter one of their incoming signings in the quarter-finals, as Palmeiras sensation Estêvão Willian will join Chelsea following the Club World Cup. The young talent has already confessed to having difficulty concentrating before his pending move to west London, and his dedication will face a stern test if this potentially awkward situation materializes.
The Blues have never competed against Botafogo in an official match, but they've previously battled Palmeiras. Chelsea defeated the South American side 2–1 in extra time during the 2021 Club World Cup final courtesy of a Kai Havertz spot-kick.
Chelsea's Potential Semi-Final Opponents
Chelsea's possible semi-final adversaries remain highly unpredictable currently. They'll encounter either the Group E/G winners or the Group F/H runners-up in the semi-finals, creating numerous potential matchup scenarios.
In Group G, Juventus and Manchester City are vying for first position and will meet in their concluding group match, with Chelsea unlikely to welcome a semi-final showdown with either team. In Group E, Inter and River Plate are leading the race for top spot, with the Italian side representing a particularly formidable challenge.
The combination of Borussia Dortmund, Fluminense and Mamelodi Sundowns could all claim second place in the highly contested Group F, while Real Madrid, RB Salzburg and Al Hilal are battling for advancement in Group H—with one of the final two appearing most likely to finish runner-up.
Chelsea's Potential Final Opponents
Chelsea could encounter any knockout stage qualifier from the opposite half of the Club World Cup bracket, with Paris Saint-Germain representing the most daunting prospect. Naturally, the Blues must accomplish considerable work before concerning themselves with the championship game, but they'll hope to avoid PSG should they reach the final.
The previously mentioned Bayern Munich also represents a potential opponent, along with Flamengo, who defeated Chelsea during group play. However, one of these teams will be eliminated in the Round of 16.
Currently, Juventus, Man City, Real Madrid, Dortmund and Inter constitute the possible European opposition available, though several of these clubs could be eliminated following their final group stage encounters.