Fluminense shatters European illusions

Fluminense fans have high expectations for their team at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.

Once considered the “ugly duckling” of the FIFA Club World Cup, the Brazilian team is now just one match away from the final. And that not only makes people look at them in a different light, but also makes the whole world ask the question: Is European football really that superior?

Fluminense surprise

Fluminense were not highly regarded at the start of the tournament. They were considered underdogs, especially when facing European giants like Inter Milan or Chelsea. But the label of “underdog” became the club's most powerful weapon.

Fluminense had no reputation, no huge budget, and even came to the US with a debt of up to 160 million USD . And because of that, they played as if they had nothing to lose - and that became their biggest advantage.

A 2-0 win over Inter Milan in the last 16 of the FIFA Club World Cup was the first statement, but it was when they knocked out Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal, backed by deep pockets from the country's sovereign wealth fund, that the world began to listen.

Fluminense turned a “rich guy playing the victim” into a real loser. It was not only a victory on the field, but also a slap in the face to the ambition of “whitewashing the image” of those forces using football to paint their political reputation.

“We may be financially weak, but on the pitch it's still 11 against 11,” coach Renato Gaucho said after the match. A simple statement, but one that reflects the spirit of Fluminense – a team without shining stars or a billion-dollar stadium, but with plenty of ambition and pride.

For Fluminense fans, they always show excitement.

In the semi-finals, Fluminense were the only non-European team, which unintentionally saved some of FIFA's original ideals when it came to creating the tournament: to create a truly global playground where clubs from all continents could assert themselves.

Of course, people still doubt the true intentions of President Gianni Infantino - who has often been seen as someone who likes to embellish his personal legacy. But perhaps, this time, Fluminense is turning a somewhat cliched idea into a memorable reality.

Fluminense has the right to dream

While most European audiences are indifferent to the Club World Cup - seeing it as just another series of lavish friendly matches - South American fans are living it up. The stands are filled with the red, blue, and yellow of Brazilian clubs. They sing loudly, laugh and cry with every ball. For the fans, this is a real world title, a place to prove that South American football is still powerful, still scary, and still beautiful in its own way.

And if anyone is still in doubt, just ask Chelsea. They suffered a “tropical shock” when they lost 1-3 to Flamengo in the group stage - a match in which the Brazilian team not only played better but also cheered with more enthusiasm and intensity. While Chelsea's audience was mainly curious Americans, Flamengo brought thousands of die-hard fans across the ocean to cheer them on. That's a difference that cannot be measured in money.

Chelsea then overcame Palmeiras to reach the semi-finals, but the scars of the defeat to Flamengo have not healed. PSG were knocked out by Botafogo, Inter lost to Fluminense - and now, who can say for sure that Chelsea won't be next?

Thiago Silva is the captain of Fluminense.

It is worth mentioning that if Chelsea are eliminated, the person who directly pushed them down the cliff could be a very familiar name: Thiago Silva. The legendary center-back was a mainstay of Chelsea in the 2020/21 Champions League season, now playing for Fluminense - his boyhood team - in the role of leader both professionally and mentally.

In the match against Inter, it was Silva who took over as coach, decided to switch to a 5-4-1 formation to maintain control of the game. A bold and effective move.

Despite being 40 years old, Silva is still playing at the top level and showing the qualities of a future coach. Surrounding him are teammates who combine experience and enthusiasm, such as Jhon Arias - a striker likened to "Colombian Pele", Hercules - a holding midfielder who scored two consecutive missed goals, and especially goalkeeper Fabio, who kept a clean sheet at the age of... 44. With an incredible save against Koulibaly, Fabio proved that experience and courage are sometimes more valuable than physical strength.

Fluminense are not the strongest team. They don't have a squad of million-dollar players, a corporate backing, or a gold-plated stadium. But they have something that few big teams have: spirit. That spirit, combined with strategy, unity, and belief, has helped them overcome all limits. And now, they have the chance to rewrite history.

If Fluminense reaches the final – or even wins the title – it will be a blow to the pride of European football. But more than that, it will be a triumph of real football – football that comes from the heart, from the stands, from a belief that never dies. And in a world where football is increasingly commercialized, Fluminense are reminding us: football is best when it belongs to those who dare to dream.