Madrid stars talk Dortmund win and PSG
“The last five minutes were madness,” reflected a relieved Toni Rudiger. There had been calm before the storm. Real Madrid C.F. were two-nil up, knocking the ball about confidently, limiting Borussia Dortmund to pot shots in their FIFA Club World Cup™ quarter-final. Then, suddenly, the Madridistas were put through an emotional roller coaster. Maximilian Beier […]
Analysing Vitinha: PSG’s versatile playmaker
In this article, first published on FIFA Training Centre, Vitinha’s national team manager, Roberto Martinez, delves into why the Portuguese midfielder is at the heart of Paris Saint-Germain’s in-possession strategy. The Portugal head coach also reveals how, at times, Vitinha’s role surpasses his typical playmaking responsibilities. This article is based on a match review with […]
How talismanic Tah has risen to the occasion
In mid-May, the alarm bells were ringing in FC Bayern München’s defensive department. Dayot Upamecano’s participation in the FIFA Club World Cup™ was in doubt due to a knee problem sustained weeks earlier. It was then announced that Upamecano’s fellow centre-half, Kim Minjae, faced an indefinite lay-off due to a persistent Achilles issue. This blow […]
Dembele on Bayern, fitness and Luis Enrique influence
Ousmane Dembele is back. The Paris Saint-Germain superstar and UEFA Champions League player of the season confirmed his return from injury to the media in a post-training media scrum in Atlanta. “I feel 100 per cent,” said Dembele. “I’ve been training with the team for ten days. It’s up to the coach to decide. I’m […]
Hercules fires Fluminense into semis
Fluminense 2-1 Al Hilal Fluminense goals: Martinelli (40), Hercules (70) Al Hilal goal: Marcos Leonardo (51) Fluminense edged an end-to-end encounter with Al Hilal to reach the FIFA Club World Cup™ semi-finals. Renato Gaucho’s team will now take on the Palmeiras-Chelsea FC winners at MetLife Stadium in New York New Jersey on Tuesday. The game […]
The one that got away: Coman’s Paris heartbreak
It is the story of a player who could have, and perhaps even should have, become a great in his own city. In the early 2010s, Kingsley Coman seemed destined to become a Paris Saint-Germain superstar. The early chapters of his relationship with the capital club played out like a footballing romance. Born in Paris, the […]
Chelsea’s attacking options against Palmeiras
Chelsea FC continue to bring in reinforcements for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™, adding more attacking firepower this week with the signing of Joao Pedro from Brighton and Hove Albion. The Brazilian international gives Blues head coach Enzo Maresca another versatile forward, who can play as a centre-forward, second striker and attacking midfielder. The […]
Gilberto: Club World Cup has shown Brazilian football’s quality
Gilberto Silva was 25 by the first time he came up against players from a different continent, as Brazil opened their 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan™ campaign against Türkiye. The defensive midfielder had only played against a handful of South American sides for the national team by then, but at that tournament, Brazil faced China PR, […]
Eight stars who can shine in the quarter-finals
The FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ quarter-finals are about to kick off, featuring some of the most exciting stars in world football and a number of players who have thrust themselves onto the global stage. Here FIFA takes a look at eight players who are poised to sprinkle their stardust on the last eight, including […]
Di Maria on top as Kane and Garcia climb
Angel Di Maria continues to lead in the race to be named Top Goal Scorer presented by Bank of America at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™. The former Argentina international took the outright lead over the chasing pack on Saturday, 28 June with his fourth penalty of the tournament, but will not be able […]