At least one non-European team is guaranteed to reach the semifinals of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup as Brazilian giants Fluminense meet Saudi side Al Hilal in Orlando on Friday.
Not only will one of these two clubs find themselves among the final four sides in the prestigious new competition, but they’ll also be recipients of the gargantuan payout that comes with qualifying for the semifinal. A massive $21 million is on the line for whoever emerges from this matchup, meaning both teams will be leaving everything they have out on the pitch.
Both clubs triggered massive upsets back on Monday to reach this point. Fluminense handled UEFA Champions League finalists Inter Milan in Charlotte, leaving their players in tears after the match.
Al Hilal, meanwhile, stunned Premier League giants Man City in extra-time at this very venue, with Marcos Leonardo scoring a 112th-minute winner to secure a thrilling 4-3 victory.
The Sporting News runs through the latest team news and injury updates for both sides as the match draws nearer.
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Fluminense vs. Al Hilal predicted lineups, team news
Fluminense will be without left-back Rene, who has triggered a yellow card suspension and will be unable to participate in this match. He is one of 10 players on the squad to have been booked thus far, but he’s the only one to this point with multiple shown.
The win over Inter came at a cost, as midfielder Martinelli was seen struggling shortly after halftime. If he’s unable to participate, he could be replaced by Hercules who came off the bench as his replacement and scored the victory-sealing goal late. They are already without 31-year-old midfielder Otavio, who is recovering from an Achilles tear suffered back in March.
Fluminense possess strong veteran leadership, as 37-year-old striker German Cano, 40-year-old Thiago Silva, and 44-year-old goalkeeper Fabio have all played major roles in their push to the quarterfinals this summer.
Fluminense predicted XI (3-4-1-2, right to left): Fabio (GK) — Ignacio, T. Silva, Freytes — Xavier, Hercules, Bernal, Fuentes — Nonato — Arias, Cano.
Injured: Martinelli (doubt), Otavio (Achilles).
Suspended: Rene (yellow cards).
On a yellow: Cano, Freytes, Santos, Arias, Bernal, Fabio, Keno, Martinelli, Nonato.
Full Fluminense squad
Goalkeepers: Vitor Eudes, Fabio, Marcelo Pitaluga, Gustavo Ramalho.
Defenders: Juan Freytes, Gabriel Fuentes, Guga, Ignacio, Manoel, Rene, Thiago Santos, Thiago Silva, Samuel Xavier.
Midfielders: Facundo Bernal, Wallace Davi, Ganso, Hercules, Isaque, Lima, Martinelli, Nonato, Ruben Lezcano.
Forwards: Jhon Arias, Paulo Baya, German Cano, Agustin Canobbio, Everaldo, Riquelme Felipe, Keno, Joaquin Lavega, Kevin Serna, Yeferson Soteldo.
Incredibly, Al Hilal have reached this stage with star striker Aleksandar Mitrovic sidelined by a calf injury, leaving Simone Inzaghi’s attacking options compromised. That has left Marcos Leonardo to step in and fill the void, which he has done brilliantly, scoring a brace against Man City to bring the 22-year-old Brazilian’s total at the competition to three goals and one assist.
The attacking ranks were further thinned when captain Salem Aldawsari scored a wonderful lob against Pachuca in the group stage, but he suffered a hamstring injury shortly after that is set to keep him out for six weeks. Mohamed Kanno has taken over for him on the right wing.
Attacking full-back Joao Cancelo got the best of his former club Man City in the Round of 16 and should be set for another start, while goalkeeper Yassine Bounou has once again starred on a global stage after the Morocco international burst onto the scene at the 2022 World Cup.
Al Hilal predicted XI (4-2-3-1, right to left): Bono (GK) — Cancelo, Al-Harbi, Koulibaly, Lodi— N. Aldawsari, Neves — Kanno, Milinkovic-Savic, Malcom — Leonardo.
Injured: Mitrovic (calf), Aldawsari (hamstring).
Suspended: None.
On a yellow card: Leonardo, Lodi, Koulibaly, Neves, Al Qahtani, Al Harbi.
Full Al Hilal squad
Goalkeepers: Ahmad Aburasyin, Abdulelah Alghamdi, Mohammed Alyami, Yassine Bounou.
Defenders: Ali Albulayhi, Khalifah Aldawsari, Rayan Alghamdi, Moteb Alhardbi, Saad Almuthary, Yasser Alshahrani, Hassan Altambakti, Hamad Alyami, Saleh Barnawi, Saud Harun, Joao Cancelo, Kalidou Koulibaly.
Midfielders: Nasser Aldawsari, Salem Aldawsari, Khalid Alghannam, Musab Aljuwayr, Abduelelah Almalki, Mohammed Alqahtani, Abdulaziz Hadhood, Kaio, Mohamed Kanno, Renan Lodi, Malcom, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Mohammed Muhaysh, Ruben Neves.
Forwards: Abdullah Alhamddan, Turki Alghumayl, Aleksandar Mitrovic, Marcos Leonardo.
Fluminense vs. Al Hilal score prediction
This will be a dogfight between two teams desperate to secure a massive financial windfall for the club and a place in the semifinals of an elite competition. Both teams will throw everything they have at their opponent, and it will make refereeing this match particularly difficult.
While both clubs possess great attributes, especially at the goalkeeping position, Fluminense appear not only the better side but also the team with fewer key absences. They handled Inter Milan’s pressure like it was nothing, and they should manage to absorb Al Hilal’s significant attacking pressure, as well.
Al Hilal were most vulnerable against Man City against the counter, which is where Fluminense excel, and that will be their undoing.
Prediction: Fluminense 2-1 Al Hilal
How to watch Fluminense vs. Al Hilal: Live stream, TV channel
Here’s how to watch this Club World Cup quarterfinal match across selected areas of the world’s major regions:
| Date | Time | TV channel | Streaming | |
| USA | Fri, Jul. 4 | 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT | TNT, truTV, TUDN, UniMas | Fubo, Sling, DAZN |
| Canada | Fri, Jul. 4 | 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT | — | DAZN |
| UK | Fri, Jul. 4 | 8 a.m. BST | Channel 5 | DAZN |
| Australia | Sat, Jul. 5 | 7 a.m. AEST | — | DAZN, Kayo Sports, Foxtel Now |
| India | Sat, Jul. 5 | 12:30 a.m. IST | — | DAZN, tabii |
