Flamengo begin their assault on the world as they take on Espérance Tunis of Tunisia in their Club World Cup opener. The Rubro Negro come into the tournament as one of the in-form sides in South America and are unbeaten in their last eight matches, winning their last four. Their final game before heading to the States was a dominant 5-0 victory over Fortaleza, with goals from Giorgian de Arrascaeta, Evertton Araújo, Luiz Araújo, Michael, and another from Araújo wrapping up the win in style.
Since taking charge in 2024, Filipe Luís has been hugely popular amongst the Flamengo faithful. From his 46 matches, he’s won 31, drawn 12 and lost just three times. But it’s not just the results, it’s the way they’ve been playing. They’ve scored 83 and conceded only 23 in that time. They’ve lifted the Copa do Brasil, the Campeonato Carioca and the Supercopa do Brasil against Botafogo.
In the league, they sit top of the table despite playing a game less than most, and they’ve secured their place in the last 16 of the Copa Libertadores. Now, attention turns to conquering the globe.
A key man this season has been Giorgian de Arrascaeta. With his bleach blonde hair, he’s hard to miss – but even harder to stop. He’s scored nine and assisted four in just nine league matches this season, and his 13 goal involvements make him the one to watch in this tournament.
As for Espérance Tunis, they are also in superb form. They’re unbeaten in 11 matches, winning nine of those and drawing just twice. Their final outing before flying out to the United States saw them pick up a 1-0 win over Stade Tunisien, with Onuche Ogbelu grabbing the only goal of the game.
This one promises to be a cracker, not just on the pitch but in the stands too. Flamengo, one of the most passionately supported clubs in Brazil, take on Espérance, one of the giants of Tunisia, whose fans have already made themself heard in Philadelphia. It’s set to be a fiery, electric atmosphere at the Lincoln Financial Field.
Brasileirão Breakdown 