Club World Cup Daily: Liam Delap scores first Chelsea goal, Blues qualify to last 16

The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup is disconnected and running, and has produced plentifulness of talking points and storylines already. Let's drawback you up connected what's happening, what you've missed and what's inactive to come.

We volition update this record passim each matchday with the latest reporting, investigation and amusive from the competition, truthful cheque backmost regularly for the latest quality arsenic we travel the amusive starring up to the tournament final astatine MetLife Stadium connected July 13.

The lead: Delap connected scoresheet arsenic Chelsea beforehand to past 16

This is precisely the benignant of signifier Liam Delap is hoping to break. Chelsea were starring but laboring successful the stifling Philadelphia vigor against Espérance de Tunis connected Tuesday earlier their caller £30 cardinal striker took his accidental to wrapper up 2nd spot successful Group D and harmless transition to the circular of 16.

Moments aft Tosin Adarabioyo's header had fixed Chelsea the pb successful first-half stoppage time, Delap collected a shot clipped guardant by Enzo Fernández earlier dropping his shoulder, cutting wrong connected his close ft and rolling the shot into the net. The defending was poor, but Delap's objective decorativeness settled what had to that constituent been a somewhat tense display, fixed decision astatine Lincoln Financial Field would person sent Chelsea crashing retired of the Club World Cup.

They had created a fewer openings and controlled the play -- registering 75% possession successful the archetypal fractional -- but were incapable to property location that advantage. Time and again, this has been Chelsea's undoing.

Delap made definite the communicative was antithetic this clip and his archetypal extremity for the nine -- connected his 3rd quality -- was the pivotal infinitesimal successful a 3-0 win and comes astatine a peculiarly opportune moment.

Earlier successful the day, Chelsea learned that FIFA had decided to widen Nicolas Jackson's suspension for his reddish paper against Flamengo from the mandatory 1 crippled to two. That means helium volition besides miss Saturday's round-of-16 clash against Benfica successful Charlotte, and it volition springiness Delap different accidental to involvement his assertion arsenic their main guardant erstwhile the 2025-26 run begins successful August.

The contention betwixt Jackson and Delap is close, but determination is small uncertainty who has the momentum close now. He turned a hard evening into a regular one, and that, successful essence, is the job.

Chelsea were sufficiently comfy to instrumentality Delap disconnected successful the 59th infinitesimal with Benfica successful mind, and the two-goal borderline present besides masked different evening wherever manager Enzo Maresca tried to equilibrium the seemingly incompatible dual aims of trying to triumph this contention and experimenting for adjacent season.

Maresca made 8 changes to the squad that mislaid to Flamengo, with Cole Palmer, Reece James, Levi Colwill, Marc Cucurella, Moisés Caicedo, Pedro Neto, Trevoh Chalobah, and Robert Sánchez each among the substitutes.

This was mostly owed to fatigue wrong the squad and a tendency to prioritize the usage of caller legs, fixed Maresca's pre-match admittance that the squad could hardly bid amid sweltering temperatures which deed 100F for the archetypal clip successful 13 years earlier connected Tuesday.

Just arsenic against Flamengo, Maresca tried thing antithetic with Malo Gusto inverting from near back, Noni Madueke connected the near wing, and Romeo Lavia acting arsenic a sole midfield pivot with Fernandez and Christopher Nkunku some pushing connected down Delap.

There were encouraging signs, but Chelsea struggled to make overmuch of enactment until that abrupt treble salvo from Tosin and Delap.

Andrey Santos made his long-awaited competitory debut, and Nkunku had the accidental to people from the spot taken distant erstwhile a punishment awarded for handball by Yassine Meriah was overturned connected VAR review.

Substitute Tyrique George added a precocious 3rd with a debased thrust successful which Tunis goalkeeper Bechir Ben Saïd should person saved, but successful effect, Chelsea were mostly moving down the timepiece connected a nighttime erstwhile lone the effect mattered.

They volition person to beryllium amended against Benfica. But if Delap tin proceed his promising start, there's each accidental they volition be. -- James Olley

Today's apical Club World Cup news

• Miami's unbeaten tally sets up CWC clash with PSG
• Club World Cup: How teams tin scope past 16
• Chelsea's Jackson handed two-match prohibition aft red

Sights and sounds astir FIFA Club World Cup

Di Maria, Benfica upset Bayern to apical Group C

CHARLOTTE -- Ángel Di María isn't acceptable to permission Benfica conscionable yet. The winger, 37, volition caput backmost to boyhood nine Rosario Central erstwhile this Club World Cup is over. But that volition person to wait, aft Benfica's 1-0 win implicit favorites Bayern Munich successful Charlotte, North Carolina, confirmed their spot successful the past 16.

In 97-degree vigor -- temperatures truthful precocious that Bayern decided to travel Borussia Dortmund successful allowing their substitutes to ticker the crippled from the locker room -- Di Maria rolled backmost the years. He was progressive successful the determination that enactment Benfica up successful the 13th minute, and overmuch later, successful the 80th minute, determination helium was: tirelessly collecting the ball, holding disconnected a defender's challenge, turning into abstraction and moving the play on, allowing his squad to support possession.

Three minutes later, it was Di Maria calling connected those endless reserves of vigor and chasing Bayern's Michael Olise, harrying a subordinate 14 years his inferior and pushing Olise, who had the ball, backmost to the halfway line. That was the communicative of the game: Bayern dominated, ending with 73% possession and much shots (13-7), crosses (20-3) and chances created (12-5). But Benfica were capable to resist.

When Di Maria was yet substituted, successful the 87th minute, helium was connected the acold broadside of the tract from the benches. It meant helium had to instrumentality the agelong locomotion astir the borderline of the tract arsenic play continued, saluting the Benfica fans wrong Bank of America Stadium arsenic helium went.

Di Maria wasn't their lone star. Goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin, 23, made 4 important saves and was named subordinate of the match. Captain Nicolás Otamendi -- besides 37 -- and his center-back spouse António Silva, 21, made 20 clearances betwixt them. Bayern, contempt throwing connected Harry Kane, Olise and Joshua Kimmich astatine halftime, were frustrated.

In added time, arsenic Kane headed conscionable wide astatine the adjacent post, it was Otamendi who roseate with him, throwing himself to the crushed to gain a escaped kick. The Argentine's teammates celebrated it similar a goal. Moments later, astatine the full-time whistle, Otamendi embraced Silva, past Trubin. Benfica's blend of younker and acquisition had done enough.

"The upwind was highly hot," Trubin said afterward. "I'm truthful tired, I don't consciousness nothing. I conscionable privation to rest." He tin remainder until Saturday, erstwhile Benfica play next. Topping Group C, finishing unbeaten connected 7 points, means they'll look Group D's runners-up. Bayern, who made themselves tourney favorites erstwhile they bushed Auckland 10-0, had to settee for 2nd place. -- Alex Kirkland

Flamengo spell unbeaten successful their group, but present look tougher absorption successful knockout stage

ORLANDO -- Flamengo look similar a squad that could conceivably triumph the Club World Cup, but they're going to person to bash it the hard way.

After finishing apical of Group D up of Chelsea -- contempt a 1-1 gully with LAFC astatine Camping World Stadium connected Tuesday -- their reward is simply a circular of 16 lucifer against Bayern Munich successful Miami connected Sunday.

If they triumph that, their quarterfinal is apt to beryllium against European champions Paris Saint-Germain, who play Lionel Messi's Inter Miami successful their circular of 16 match. They couldn't person picked a harder way to the semifinals.

Flamengo, sitting apical of their home title successful Brazil, announced themselves arsenic a genuine contender for the trophy with their 3-1 triumph implicit Chelsea. But Enzo Maresca mightiness deliberation present that thing affirmative has travel from the defeat, with his squad scheduled to play Benfica successful the 2nd circular earlier a imaginable quarterfinal against either Palmeiras oregon Botafogo.

Flamengo brag Filipe Luís volition not beryllium excessively acrophobic astir the gully with LAFC.

He made 7 changes to the squad that bushed Chelsea and they inactive should person won comfortably. They deed the woodwork 4 times earlier Denis Bouanga opened the scoring for LAFC successful the 84th minute.

The Brazilian fans, who made the crippled successful Orlando consciousness similar it was being played successful Rio, yet got thing to outcry astir erstwhile Wallace got a deserved equalizer 2 minutes later. -- Rob Dawson

Auckland scores a goal

Much has been made of the Club World Cup's sole amateur squad and Oceania representatives Auckland City for their off-field stories alternatively than their on-field play, but their last Group C crippled yielded a extremity and thing meaningful (in summation to the information money) to instrumentality backmost to New Zealand.

The extremity came arsenic truthful galore underdogs' bash -- via a acceptable piece, with Jerson Lagos' outswinging country uncovering the noggin of cardinal defender Christian Gray, who steered a header beyond the diving Agustin Marchesin. In the expansive strategy of things, the extremity did thing to alteration the trajectory of Group C -- Benfica's 1-0 triumph implicit Bayern Munich took attraction of immoderate drama, with Boca Juniors eliminated by that effect -- arsenic things successful Nashville were delayed for astir an hr owed to adverse weather.

Gray volition instrumentality to his time occupation successful Auckland arsenic a teacher -- helium had to beryllium approved for clip disconnected work successful bid to suit up for the Navy Blues -- Jerson Lagos volition spell backmost to his part-time barber gig and the Club World Cup volition tick over, but we'll ever person that goal, and their delirious celebrations, to bespeak connected aft a memorable tournament. -- James Tyler

Goodbye, Boca Juniors

NASHVILLE -- Boca Juniors, with possibly the astir vibrant instrumentality basal successful the radical signifier of the FIFA Club World Cup, said goodbye to the tourney aft a 1-1 draw successful their last lucifer against Auckland City.

Nashville welcomed the Argentine squad with a somesthesia of 91 degrees Fahrenheit (33 degrees Celsius). Although they had to triumph the match, they besides had to anticipation for a Bayern Munich triumph implicit Benfica, which ne'er came, arsenic the Portuguese squad won 1-0. The effect was watched by the Xeneizes fans connected the screens astatine Geodis Park, portion their team's crippled was suspended for 45 minutes owed to a menace of a thunderstorm.

Despite the atrocious quality of Benfica's victory, the Boca Juniors fans ne'er stopped cheering. -- José Muñoz, ESPN Mexico

Flamengo acceptable for matchup against Bayern

As Flamengo hole for a heavyweight clash against German powerhouse Bayern Munich, immoderate of the players look guardant to the lucifer up of them arsenic they look to advancement successful the Club World Cup arsenic existent contenders.

"We managed to suffice successful archetypal spot and stay undefeated," said defender Alex Sandro to CazéTV. "That's large for getting into the adjacent circular with precocious confidence. [Bayern?] We cognize however beardown they are and the players they have. But we besides cognize what we person to do.

"Our crippled program doesn't change. Playing against Bayern has ever been great. Playing against large teams, successful a way, helps america hole better. It's a large accidental to spot what level we are astatine today. And the level volition summation 100%, some for them and for us."

"It's a squad [Bayern] that's utilized to winning and playing large matches," said defender Danilo to SporTV.

"I've faced them a fewer times successful my life, and I cognize precisely what benignant of squad we're going to face. I besides played with their manager [Vincent Kompany] astatine Manchester City, and helium was my captain.

He's a feline who demands committedness and strength from his players. That's however it was erstwhile helium was City's captain, and that's however helium is arsenic a coach, and helium takes attraction of each detail. For america to get done the adjacent round, we'll request to beryllium astatine our champion erstwhile again, playing with a batch of synergy. As we've shown, we person each accidental of getting through." -- Roberto Rojas

Monterrey's Sergio Ramos and Sergio Canales bid with team

PASADENA -- Sergio Ramos, Johan Rojas and Sergio Canales trained alongside their teammates up of Wednesday's lucifer against Urawa Red Diamonds, their past crippled of the radical signifier successful the Club World Cup, with the anticipation of getting a summons for the knockout phase.

Canales hasn't been astatine his apical level passim the tournament, and sources told ESPN that the Spanish subordinate is dealing with a wounded successful the thigh. He volition beryllium a game-time determination for the match, which volition beryllium held astatine the Rose Bowl successful Pasadena, California.

Ramos, a erstwhile Spain nationalist squad defender, didn't enactment successful associated exercises the erstwhile days, but helium worked alongside his teammates connected Tuesday. -- Ricardo Cariño, ESPN Mexico

play

1:09

Burley: Don't justice teams connected Club World Cup performance

Craig Burley explains wherefore you can't usage the Club World Cup to find which sides are stronger than others.

Star subordinate of the day

Gray's extremity for Auckland volition beryllium remembered

There's lone 1 sanction stealing the headlines contiguous astatine the Club World Cup: Christian Gray, the antheral who conscionable mightiness go the coolest teacher astatine his schoolhouse erstwhile helium returns location to New Zealand.

Gray's towering header for Auckland City against Boca Juniors goalkeeper Agustín Marchesín didn't conscionable springiness the OFC broadside their archetypal and lone extremity of the tournament, but it secured a stunning 1-1 gully with the South American giants and capped their travel connected a precocious note.

Yes, Auckland conceded 17 goals successful 3 games. But Gray's infinitesimal volition beryllium remembered not conscionable for denying Boca their ain Music City Miracle successful Nashville and a spot successful the circular of 16, but for symbolizing the charm of a semi-professional broadside lasting gangly among planetary giants similar Bayern Munich and Benfica.

One of the astir heartwarming stories of this Club World Cup belongs to Auckland and particularly for Gray. -- Rojas

Match previews, likelihood for Wednesday

Borussia Dortmund vs. Ulsan HD (Group F; Cincinnati, Ohio, 3 p.m. ET)

Odds (via ESPN BET): Borussia Dortmund (-600), Draw (+600), Ulsan HD (+1000)

The information that Dortmund are successful a bully presumption to beforehand from Group F is somewhat fortunate considering their bumpy, chaotic Club World Cup to date. First, they had a 0-0 gully with Fluminense successful which they needed Gregor Kobel's heroics betwixt the posts to sphere a point. Then determination was a 4-3 triumph implicit Mamelodi Sundowns successful which Niko Kovac's broadside raced to a 4-1 pb aft an hr and past white-knuckled their mode to a triumph successful which they were outshot, outdone successful possession and outmatched successful the xG conflict (2.74-1.72). And yet, if they implicit concern against an Ulsan HD broadside that's already eliminated, they'll acceptable up a day with either (we think) River Plate oregon Inter Milan successful the circular of 16.

Serhou Guirassy opened his Club World Cup relationship against Mamelodi and should thrive again present if he's capable to get accordant work from Jobe Bellingham, who is inactive getting utilized to his caller surroundings. (Julian Brandt besides needs to beryllium a bigger fig for this squad successful the last third, but they've got plentifulness of clip to fig it out.) We expect a comfy Dortmund triumph and different large European broadside successful the last-16, but this tourney has shown a capableness to surprise. -- Tyler

Mamelodi Sundowns vs. Fluminense (Group F; Miami, Fla., 3 p.m. ET)

Odds: Mamelodi Sundowns (+300), Draw (+260), Fluminense (-115)

Fluminense big Mamelodi Sundowns successful their last radical signifier lucifer astatine Hard Rock Stadium successful Miami Gardens, Florida.

The Brazilian giants presently pb the Group F standings with 4 points and a extremity quality of plus-2 aft a 0-0 gully against Borussia Dortmund and a 4-2 triumph implicit Ulsan HD. Though a triumph connected Wednesday day against Sundowns would guarantee qualification to the circular of 16, the apical slot of the radical depends connected the results of the last circular of matches.

Dortmund besides presently boast 4 points aft a triumph and a draw, but they beryllium successful 2nd spot owed to their extremity quality of plus-1. Should the German squad bushed Ulsan HD by much goals than Fluminense people connected Sundowns, the Brazilian broadside would suffice successful 2nd place.

But Mamelodi Sundowns volition not marque it casual for Fluminense, arsenic a triumph could spot the squad done to the adjacent circular of the Club World Cup. The South African squad bushed Ulsan to tally 3 points and participate the last circular with hopes of advancing. -- Lizzy Becherano

Inter Milan vs. River Plate (Group E; Seattle, Wash., 9 p.m. ET)

Odds: Inter Milan (+130), Draw (+175), River Plate (+280)

Inter were the oldest broadside successful Europe's Big Five leagues past play by weighted minutes. That volition apt alteration adjacent season, and we're getting glimpses of it successful the Club World Cup. Cristian Chivu has a agelong past moving with youngsters, and astatine Parma past season, helium worked with 1 of the youngest sides successful each of Europe. From the Esposito brothers (Pio and Sebastiano, who volition beryllium competing for a starting spot alongside Lautaro Martínez) to Valentin Carboni, who notched the victor against Urawa (after missing astir each of 2024-25 done injury), the Nerazzurri person a fig of talented young players acceptable for their shot.

That said, the astir coveted young subordinate connected show volition beryllium turning retired for River Plate. Real Madrid-bound Franco Mastantuono is already drafting comparisons with Lamine Yamal (he's really a spot younger), and portion he's inactive raw, the consciousness of anticipation each clip helium gets the shot is palpable. -- Gab Marcotti

Urawa Red Diamonds vs. Monterrey (Group E; Pasadena, Calif., 9 p.m. ET)

Odds: Urawa Red Diamonds (+300), Draw (+270), Monterrey (-120)

The J.League broadside are strictly playing for pridefulness aft 2 defeats from 2 games successful Seattle, taking a abbreviated jaunt southbound to instrumentality connected Liga MX champions Monterrey astatine the hallowed Rose Bowl. They had a specified 18% possession successful a 2-1 decision vs. Inter Milan successful which they held a 1-0 pb until the last 12 minutes, and were outclassed by a River Plate broadside that had tenacity, endowment and Real Madrid-bound Franco Mastantuono. Monterrey person a large accidental to triumph and subordinate the inclination of Concacaf teams going location early, but they'll request to score: A repetition of their show vs. Inter -- conscionable 4 shots connected people and a sole Sergio Ramos headed extremity -- simply won't beryllium enough. Coach Domènec Torrent volition beryllium hoping his biggest originative source, Sergio Canales, has recovered successful clip from wounded to feature. -- Tyler