ratWith the conclusion of both Club World Cup semi-finals, the final is now decided: Chelsea vs. Paris Saint-Germain.
Chelsea's new signing João Pedro put a brace past Fluminense to ensure the Blues' final berth, while PSG dazzled traditional tournament behemoths Real Madrid in impressive fashion.
With that in mind, here are VAVEL UK's four things we learnt from the Club World Cup semi-finals.
The best clubs are still European - and it doesn't look like that will change any time soon
Fluminense managed to get further than any other non-European team that qualified for the Club World Cup, but could not find a way to get the ball in the back of the net against a resurgent Chelsea side.
João Pedro was the man on the night, his first goal a result of getting on the end of a blocked Pedro Neto cross that he controlled well, before striking the ball cleanly from outside the box.
A fantastic goal-line clearance from Marc Cucurella would keep their Brazilian opponents from levelling, before Pedro put the game to bed in the second half with another excellent goal, driving into the box before ricocheting the ball off of the crossbar.
Chelsea's progression sees an all-European final, but also a somewhat uninteresting end to what could have been an intercontinental clash in the CWC's first final since their restructure.
Renato Gaúcho, the manager of Fluminense, believes that the tournament can function as a brilliant pathway for Brazilian coaches to elevate their status, and by virtue of that, the domestic teams.
"People talk a lot about [managers in Europe] but pay little attention to Brazilian coaches... This Club World Cup allowed for Brazilian coaches to be seen in a better light and I hope that continues to be the case."
Renato Gaúcho on the success of Brazilian clubs and managers at the Club World Cup
In 2024, Brazilian Série A clubs collectively generated £1.4billion in revenue, a number that has increased every year since the COVID-19 pandemic.
While 2010-2013 saw slightly more revenue, ranging from £1.45 to £1.8 billion for the league's teams, clubs seem to be building good foundations and fairly aggressive recent spending for what is, to some, one of the only leagues outside Europe that can make a notable dent in the percieved hierarchy.
João Pedro might be a sign of Chelsea's tides turning
Todd Boehly has spent big since both he and his consortium BlueCo took over Chelsea in 2022.
Not every signing has worked out - with the club specifically struggling to find elite players to play on the wing and up top. From Romelu Lukaku to Raheem Sterling in the early days of Boehly's ownership to recent acquisitions like Pedro Neto and João Félix last summer, rarely have attacking players hit the ground running at Stamford Bridge.
Pedro may well end up being different. An impressive season for Brighton in 2024/25 saw the Brazilian pick up 10 goals and six assists in the league, while helping the side to a quarter-final run in the FA Cup.
He is a fantastic facilitator; usually always aware of the best ways to find the striker playing slightly in front of him - Danny Welbeck was up top for Pedro's time on the south coast, while now he will have to harmonise with Liam Delap and Nicolas Jackson for Chelsea.
Blues boss Enzo Maresca is clearly happy with how the second striker fits in to the club as well. Speaking in the post-match conference, the Italian spoke on just why Pedro could benefit the team so much.
"The reason why we brought him is because this season we faced many teams with a low block.
His quality is very good against [that] kind of team."
Enzo Maresca on João Pedro and the phase of play he is most vital in
Pedro could end up being another attacking casualty set to struggle with his time in London, but parallels can be drawn between him and Liverpool's Sadio Mané - both teams taking a risk on a mid-table team's promising attacker entering his mid-20s with a solid goal output, but not yet at a world class level when signed.
Mané reached that elite level, and won everything with Liverpool. Could João Pedro do the same?
Paris Saint-Germain stand clear at the top
In October and November 2024, Paris Saint-Germain played four games in the Champions League league phase, and drew one while losing three.
Circle around to early June and that same team is hoisting the UCL trophy - what is widely considered the crown jewel of domestic achievement.
A 5-0 win over Inter in the final saw a scintillating performance from Desiré Doué and even a goal for youngster Senny Mayulu, in a scoreline that had everybody reeling in shock.
15-time champions Real Madrid were no match for them in the CWC semi-finals either. While the Spanish club are adapting to life under new managerial appointment Xabi Alonso, they simply were not remotely close to the ability of PSG.
Fabián Ruiz and Ousmané Dembélé both only needed ten minutes to appear on the scoresheet, putting the Parisians in control early on in the match.
Ruiz would double his output not long later, Achraf Hakimi's cross finding the Spaniard well before he managed to brush off Federico Valverde and slot away.
It was Gonçalo Ramos for the fourth and final goal; Bradley Barcola's silky hold-up play and pass allowing the Portuguese number 9 to finish from right inside the box.
Luis Enrique knows his team is meant for top titles. In an interview after the semi-finals, Enrique admitted that his team desired - and maybe expected - to get to the CWC final.
“This was an objective from the start. And now we are just one game away from building PSG’s history, and winning all the trophies we have participated in this season.
It means a lot for us, for our fans and it is a pleasure to work at this club. We have scored 100-plus goals and we let in very few. These players are exceptional.”
Luis Enrique on his team wanting to claim Club World Cup glory
Things could not be going better for les Rouge-et-Bleu at the moment. Linked with Barcelona star Fermín López - a very Enrique-esque acquisition - it is expected that their selflessness, flair and overall team play could make them the team to beat for years to come.
Real Madrid, and the inevitable pressing tragedy
PSG learnt, through their theoretically mesmerising front three of Neymar, Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi that an attack of superstars is not always compatible.
Real Madrid might learn that same lesson. Mbappé, so vital for every club he plays for as well as his country, simply does not get involved off the ball enough. “11 [players] must work,” remarks Spanish newspaper Marca in a section on Mbappé.
The 4-0 defeat on July 9 comes off the back of a season where Barcelona finished strong and reclaimed the league title from Real, and a quarter-final Champions League exit.
Social media discourse regarding the Spanish capital's biggest team has been rife, with many commenting on the lack of effort shown from Mbappé and fellow superstar Vinícius Júnior.
The two received ratings of 6.4 and 5.8 respectively, with Vinícius taken off after only 60 minutes played. While the duo scored 42 league goals between them last year, it is the cohesiveness and willingness to defend with the team that seems to elude Real Madrid's attacking unit at the moment.
