The FIFA Club World Cup is heating up! Friday’s matches were full of excitement, upsets, and great soccer moments. Big teams like Benfica, Chelsea, and Bayern Munich are all playing as they try to make it to the next round. But it was Botafogo from Brazil who shocked the world the most. Let’s go over what happened!
What is the Club World Cup?
Before we dive into the games, here’s a quick soccer fact:
The FIFA Club World Cup is a tournament where the best soccer clubs from each continent play against each other. It includes teams that won big trophies like the Champions League in Europe and the Copa Libertadores in South America. The goal? To be named the best club team in the world!
Thursday, June 19 – Action Begins!
Atletico Madrid 3–1 Seattle Sounders
The first big match of the day featured Atletico Madrid from Spain facing off against the Seattle Sounders, a strong team from the United States.
Atletico came out strong and scored early. In the 12th minute, Pablo Barrios finished a great pass from Giuliano Simeone (yes, that’s Diego Simeone’s son!) to put the Spanish team ahead 1–0. By halftime, Atletico still had the lead.
In the second half, they came out firing again. Axel Witsel, a veteran Belgian player, scored quickly to make it 2–0. Seattle didn’t give up, though! Albert Rusnak scored to bring it to 2–1, giving the Sounders hope. But Barrios struck again, scoring his second goal of the game to make it 3–1.
That win gave Atletico a great chance to reach the next round!
Soccer Fact:
Atletico Madrid is one of the top teams in Spain. They’ve won La Liga, Spain’s top league, 11 times and reached the Champions League final three times.
Friday, June 20 – SHOCK of the Tournament!
Botafogo 1–0 Paris Saint-Germain (PSG)
This might be the biggest surprise of the whole Club World Cup so far!
Botafogo, the Brazilian champions, were playing against Paris Saint-Germain, the French club who just won the UEFA Champions League. Everyone expected PSG to win. But Botafogo had other plans!
In the 35th minute, Igor Jesus took a shot that deflected off a PSG defender and went into the goal. It wasn’t the prettiest goal, but it counted. Botafogo were now in the lead!
As the match went on, PSG tried everything. Coach Luis Enrique made four substitutions at once in the second half to try and get a goal. But it didn’t work. Botafogo defended well and the clock kept ticking.
By the time the final whistle blew, PSG had lost 1–0. Botafogo had done the impossible — they beat the best team in Europe!
Soccer Fact:
PSG has stars like Kylian Mbappé and is one of the richest clubs in the world. But even the best teams can lose if they don’t take their chances!
What’s Coming Up?
Benfica vs Auckland City
Later tonight, Portuguese giants Benfica take on Auckland City from New Zealand.
Benfica is one of the most historic teams in Europe. They’ve won the Portuguese league over 30 times and have been to two Champions League finals. Auckland City, meanwhile, has dominated soccer in Oceania and often represents their region at this tournament.
But it won’t be easy for either side. Every team here earned their spot by winning a major tournament. Anything can happen!
Soccer Fact:
Benfica’s stadium is called the Estádio da Luz, which means “Stadium of Light.” It’s one of the most famous stadiums in Europe!
Chelsea vs Flamengo
The next game features another huge matchup: Chelsea from England vs Flamengo from Brazil.
Chelsea won the Club World Cup back in 2022 and have won the Premier League and Champions League before. They’re known for their solid defense and talented players like Enzo Fernandez and Cole Palmer.
Flamengo is one of the biggest teams in South America. They’ve won the Copa Libertadores multiple times and are famous for their passionate fans and attacking soccer.
This match will be electric!
Soccer Fact:
Chelsea’s nickname is “The Blues,” while Flamengo are often called “Mengão.” Flamengo’s home stadium, the Maracanã, once held over 199,000 fans during a match — one of the largest crowds in history!
Quick Recap of Today’s Games:
✅ Atletico Madrid 3–1 Seattle Sounders
Barrios scores twice, Witsel adds one. Atleti on fire!🚨 Botafogo 1–0 PSG
Igor Jesus scores, Botafogo shock the world!🔜 Benfica vs Auckland City – Can the Portuguese giants start strong?
🔜 Chelsea vs Flamengo – European vs South American showdown!
What This Means
This tournament is full of surprises. Even the best teams can be beaten. It reminds us why we love soccer — anything is possible.
Some of the group favorites like PSG are now in trouble, and underdog teams like Botafogo are stepping up. The next few matches will be very important as teams try to qualify for the knockout rounds.
Final Soccer Fact:
The Club World Cup is a rare chance to see teams from different continents face off. That’s what makes it so exciting — you get matchups like Brazil vs France or USA vs Spain, which you don’t normally see in regular leagues!
Stay tuned for more updates, and keep cheering for your favorite club. The Club World Cup is just getting started — and if today showed us anything, it’s that you should always expect the unexpected!