Palmeiras and Chelsea are facing each other again in a high-profile showdown at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. The match is set for this Friday in Philadelphia and marks a quarterfinal that brings together two clubs with recent history in the tournament, though they’re walking very different paths. Palmeiras, from Brazil, are still chasing international recognition and hoping to finally put an end to those constant jokes back home about not having a world title.
Chelsea, meanwhile, are being watched closely. They're coming in with a familiar goal: to repeat the 2022 victory, which also came against the same opponent. But this game carries more weight than just moving on to the next round.
Palmeiras come in strong, but the absences are real
Up to now, Palmeiras have looked sharp. Abel Ferreira’s squad took the top spot in Group A and got past Botafogo in the round of 16 thanks to an extra-time goal. That match was rough, intense, and tight, but the team handled the key moments well. The win secured their place in the final eight and brought Chelsea back into the picture.
Here’s the problem. The squad isn’t at full strength. Murilo is out with an injury, and both Piquerez and Gustavo Gómez are suspended. Those are big losses, especially in a game with this kind of weight. The defensive line will have to be pieced together again, and that’s a tough ask at this stage of the tournament.
Gómez not being available is a blow. Aside from his experience and solid technique, he’s one of the team's leaders and a big threat during set pieces. His presence is tough to replace.
The good news is the midfield and attack remain untouched. There are experienced players in both areas who are used to games like this. Abel Ferreira isn’t expected to change much in terms of tactics. He’ll likely stick with a flexible approach that lets the team adjust on the fly depending on how things unfold.
Chelsea have the history, but cracks are showing
Chelsea arrive with history on their side. They’ve won this matchup before. Back in 2022, they beat Palmeiras in the final, and a few players from that squad are still around. That said, their road to this game hasn’t been smooth. They only finished second in Group D and then had to battle Benfica in a wild round of 16 match. That game ended up lasting over four hours after a weather delay because of lightning in the area. In the end, Chelsea scored three in extra time and won 4–1, but it was far from a clean performance.
Despite the scoreline, there were signs of fatigue and some real gaps in the defense. At several points, they gave up space and struggled to control the game. Those issues haven’t gone away.
Now they’re facing Palmeiras again, but with a few missing pieces. Moisés Caicedo is suspended, which takes a bite out of their midfield. On the upside, Nicolas Jackson is back after sitting out with a suspension, and João Pedro, the recent signing, is available too. He could be an important addition, depending on how the match unfolds.