Chelsea is set to face Benfica in the round of 16 of the FIFA Club World Cup on Saturday, June 28, 2025. The match will take place at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, with kickoff scheduled for 4pm local time (9pm BST).
Team News and Updates
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is expected to rotate his squad for this match, as he has been doing throughout the tournament, due to the hot conditions. Nicolas Jackson will miss the game as he serves the second and final match of his suspension. However, players like Reece James, Levi Colwill, Marc Cucurella, Cole Palmer and Moises Caicedo are in line for a return to the starting lineup. Liam Delap is expected to lead the attack again after scoring his first goal for the club in the previous match. Wesley Fofana is still recovering from a thigh injury and will not be available.
Benfica have a fully fit squad, with Alvaro Carreras returning from suspension and Renato Sanches recovering from a fitness issue. Key players for Benfica include veterans Ángel Di María and Nicolás Otamendi. Florentino Luis is expected to be out due to an injury.
Background and Context
Chelsea finished second in Group D after a 2-0 win against Los Angeles FC, a 3-1 defeat to Flamengo, and a 3-0 victory over Esperance Tunis. Benfica topped Group C, even defeating Bayern Munich 1-0.
Chelsea has won the Club World Cup once before, in 2021, with a 2-1 victory against Palmeiras. This is the first meeting between Chelsea and Benfica since the 2013 Europa League final, which Chelsea won. Chelsea has won all three of their previous competitive meetings with Benfica.
How to Watch
The match will be broadcast live on DAZN, with coverage starting one hour before kickoff. DAZN is offering free access to the tournament via their "Freemium" service, requiring only a free account signup.
Match Details
Chelsea's Potential Route
If Chelsea wins against Benfica, they will face either Palmeiras or Botafogo in the quarter-finals in Philadelphia on July 4. Potential semi-final opponents could include Real Madrid, Manchester City, or Juventus. The final is scheduled for July 13 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Additional Information
The Club World Cup allows teams to add two players to their squad between June 27 and July 3. Five substitutions are permitted per match, with a sixth allowed in extra time, as well as concussion replacements. Goal-line technology, VAR, and a new Advanced Semi-Automated Offside system are being used in the competition.
