Top 5 Biggest Upsets in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup Quarterfinals

Top 5 Biggest Upsets in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup Quarter‑Finals

Quarter‑final fixtures were spread across Friday, July 4, and Saturday, July 5, 2025. On Friday, July 4, Fluminense vs Al‑Hilal kicked off at 3:00 PM EDT at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, followed by Palmeiras vs Chelsea at 9:00 PM EDT at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.

The remaining four quarter‑finals came on Saturday, July 5. In the afternoon session, Monterrey faced Real Madrid and Inter Miami took on Bayern Munich (2:00 PM local start), with the evening session featuring Botafogo vs Juventus and Al Ahly vs Paris Saint‑Germain (7:00 PM local time)

This year’s expanded 2025 Club World Cup has already delivered its fair share of shocks, but nothing prepared us for the drama of the quarter‑final stage. Four heavyweight clashes promised goals and grandeur—yet it was the so‑called minnows who truly captivated the globe.

From late penalty shoot‑outs to tactical masterclasses, here are the standout upsets that rewrote the tournament script.

Al‑Hilal’s heroics and Fluminense’s tactical discipline may just be the beginning of a tournament of shocks.

Shock Results of the 2025 Club World Cup Quarter‑Finals: Underdogs Who Made History

2025 FIFA Club World Cup Quarterfinals, Semifinals & Final Fixtures

From Al‑Hilal’s dramatic win to Fluminense’s tactical masterclass, the 2025 Club World Cup quarter‑finals delivered historic shocks that stunned the football world.

Here are the shockwaves from the Round of 16

Al‑Hilal Stuns Manchester City – 4–3 (AET)

Manchester City vs Al Hilal

In one of the tournament’s biggest upsets, Al‑Hilal shocked reigning Champions League winners Manchester City, rallying from behind to win 4–3 after extra time. Marcos Leonardo’s brace—including the decisive 112th-minute strike—snatched victory away just when City thought they’d seen it through.

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The Saudi side’s clinical counterattacks dismantled City’s dominance and set the tone for the knockouts.

Fluminense Overpowers Inter Milan – 2–0

Brazil’s Fluminense delivered another upset, defeating Serie A giants Inter Milan with a composed 2–0 win in Charlotte. German Cano opened the scoring in the 3rd minute, and Hercules sealed it in stoppage time.

Inter struggled to create meaningful chances, while veteran goalkeeper Fabio stood firm.

Tournament Outlook

With elite European teams like Manchester City and Inter Milan already eliminated, the rest of the knockout phase promises even more unpredictability. Quarter-finals are set up as follows:

  • Fluminense vs Al‑Hilal (Friday, July 4, Orlando)
  • PSG vs Bayern Munich (Saturday, July 5, Atlanta)
  • Palmeiras vs Chelsea (July 5)
  • Winner of Real Madrid/Juventus vs Winner of Dortmund/Monterrey (July 5, East Rutherford)

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