The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup was expected to be a coronation for Europe’s elite.

Instead, it has become a samba spectacle, with four unbeaten Brazilian clubs having stormed through the group stage, toppling European heavyweights, reigniting South America’s pride, and thrusting Brazil’s footballing legacy back into the global spotlight.

Unbeaten and unapologetic

In a tournament expanded to 32 teams and staged across the U.S., Brazilian sides have done more than compete – they’ve dominated.

Flamengo, Botafogo, Palmeiras and Fluminense went undefeated in eight matches, combining for six wins and two draws.

They scored 14 goals, conceded just four, and topped all their respective groups. But it’s not just the numbers that stand out – it’s the statement they’ve made.

At the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Botafogo stunned UEFA champions Paris Saint-Germain with a gutsy 1-0 win.

Igor Jesus, whose tournament heroics have since drawn the attention of Nottingham Forest, struck the lone goal while Botafogo’s backline frustrated PSG’s high-priced stars. “No one has defended better against us this season,” admitted PSG coach Luis Enrique.

Flamengo delivered a powerful message of their own by overwhelming Chelsea 3-1, exorcising the demons of their 2019 Club World Cup final loss to Liverpool.

It was the first time a Brazilian club had beaten a European opponent by two goals in this competition since 2000.

Meanwhile, Palmeiras, under Abel Ferreira, displayed clinical control in a 0-0 draw with Porto and a 2-0 win over Al Ahly.

Their methodical, possession-heavy approach suffocated their opponents and dictated tempo from start to finish.

Even Fluminense, the 2023 Copa Libertadores winners, proved resilient.

They held Borussia Dortmund to a goalless draw and clawed back from behind to defeat South Korea’s Ulsan Hyundai.

While not as polished as their compatriots, their grit has added another layer to Brazil’s unbeaten run.

Europe feels the heat

European teams, for all their pedigree, financial firepower and star-studded squads, have not looked invincible.

Real Madrid and Manchester City remain title favorites, while Bayern Munich’s ruthlessness – evident in a 31-1 shot dominance over Auckland City – still intimidates.

Yet, vulnerabilities have emerged.

PSG and Chelsea were both undone by Brazilian intensity and tactical clarity.

Dortmund and Porto struggled to break down disciplined Brazilian setups.

Add in the sweltering U.S. summer heat and it’s clear the European clubs are no longer untouchable.

Dortmund coach Niko Kovac has already warned of squad rotations to combat fatigue in the knockout rounds.

Is glory within reach?

The idea of a Brazilian club lifting the trophy no longer feels far-fetched.

It’s tangible and plausible.

Brazil’s representatives have paired tactical discipline with flair.

Flamengo’s attacking duo of Giorgian de Arrascaeta and Gonzalo Plata have dazzled defenses.

Palmeiras, with their slow-burn style, have demonstrated maturity and patience. Botafogo’s defensive rigidity offers a solid spine, and Fluminense’s fighting spirit keeps them in the conversation.

Historically, Brazil’s clubs know this stage well.

Built on history, fueled by youth

Santos, powered by Pele, conquered the Intercontinental Cup in the 1960s.

Sao Paulo, Corinthians and Flamengo have all lifted world titles since.

That heritage still breathes in today’s squads. With rising stars like Palmeiras’ Estevao and Vitor Roque joining seasoned names, the mix of youth and experience is proving a potent blend.

There is, of course, risk ahead.

The knockouts bring new obstacles, with the likes of Bayern and Madrid lurking.

The single-elimination format, possible extra time and penalties add chaos. And the departure of top talent post-tournament, like Igor Jesus, could stretch Brazilian squads thin.

Yet, the fire is undeniable.

Flamengo and Palmeiras appear best positioned to make a deep run, with Botafogo quietly growing in confidence.

Fluminense, while less consistent, cannot be counted out.

Critics have argued that teams like Porto and Dortmund haven’t been at their peak, and European depth could yet prove decisive. But the gap has closed.

Balance of power tilts, slightly

Beyond results, the bigger question is whether we’re witnessing a shift in global football’s hierarchy.

Europe’s dominance has long been cemented by superior infrastructure, commercialization and tactics.

But the Club World Cup has shown that passion, preparation and pedigree can still rattle the old order.

Brazil continues to churn out elite talent – 14% of the 508 players in the group stage were Brazilian – and while many of its stars still head to Europe early, the domestic league is proving it can develop and keep quality.

Brazil’s soul lives on

The ghosts of Pele, Ronaldo (R9), and Ronaldinho hover over this tournament.

Their legacies – built on joy, creativity, and competitive fire – are reflected in every step Flamengo takes, every ball Estevao touches, every roar from Brazilian fans shaking U.S. stadiums. The “jogo bonito” is not dead – it’s just wearing new boots.

And now, Brazil wants more than nostalgia.

It wants the trophy.

Hosting the 2029 edition is already in the country’s sights.

But first, there’s unfinished business in 2025. Can Brazil win it all at MetLife Stadium on July 13? Maybe. But even if they fall short, they’ve already reshaped the narrative.

As Fluminense coach Renato Gaucho reminded reporters: “Football is 11 against 11. Money doesn’t always win.” Maybe heart does.

While Russia faced swift bans from international sport over its invasion of Ukraine, Israeli clubs continue to compete globally despite ongoing military operations in Gaza and Iran – a silence that Turkish sports lawyer Anıl Dinçer calls “a glaring double standard” and a troubling inconsistency at the heart of global sports governance.

Dinçer, an expert in sports law, compared the handling of Israel’s military actions with the rapid global sanctions imposed on Russia after its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. “Russia was hit with sweeping bans – teams expelled, federations blocked, players allowed to leave. With Israel, we get silence,” he told Anadolu Agency (AA).

“FIFA acted swiftly against Russia. Why not Israel?” Dinçer asked. “The sporting world is watching – and waiting.”

War unfolding on and off the field

Following Israeli strikes on Iranian soil – and its continuing assault on Gaza – Dinçer said global football has again been dragged into geopolitical tensions. He noted that while foreign players in both Israel and Iran face growing uncertainty, FIFA has yet to offer provisions like temporary transfers or contract protections.

“If the war escalates, FIFA may allow one-season loan transfers, as it did for players in Russia,” Dinçer said. “But right now, there’s no move – not even a discussion.”

Dinçer stressed that Israel’s violations of international humanitarian law have spanned years but have never triggered the kind of sporting penalties imposed on Russia.

“We’re seeing systematic human rights violations. Yet no sports sanctions. Why the hesitation?” he asked.

In 2022, FIFA and UEFA swiftly suspended the Russian national teams and clubs. But today, despite similar – or worse – actions from Israel, no such steps have been taken.

“This is a textbook case of selective enforcement,” Dinçer said. “The message it sends is damaging – to athletes, to fans, and to the integrity of the game.”

FIFPro’s unanswered pleas

Dinçer also revealed that the International Federation of Professional Footballers (FIFPro) has made three formal requests – in 2013, 2024, and 2025 – asking FIFA to penalize Israel for its actions.

Yet FIFA has refused to convene its congress to discuss them.

“These aren’t just ignored – they’re buried,” Dinçer said. “FIFA acts like the requests don’t exist.”

Beyond football, Dinçer framed the issue as a broader ethical failure. FIFA’s core principles – fair play, equality, and justice – are undermined, he said, by selective inaction.

“As a lawyer and as a human being, I find this deeply troubling,” he said. “FIFA is failing not just legally, but morally.”

He warned that any further delay in addressing the situation, especially as the 2024–25 season approaches, will deepen public mistrust in global sports governance.

Dinçer concluded with a sharp caution: if governing bodies continue to ignore Israeli actions, they risk shattering their credibility.

“Every decision they fail to take chips away at their legitimacy,” he said. “Football can’t afford another scandal rooted in silence.”

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The racing sequences in Brad Pitt’s new Formula One film deliver striking realism, but the story leans heavily on Hollywood flair, blending motorsport history with creative license.

“We just drew from history – a little of this, a little of that – and had Lewis Hamilton keep us on track,” Pitt said at the film’s New York premiere ahead of its global release.

Apple’s senior vice president of services, Eddy Cue – a longtime Formula One enthusiast and Ferrari board member – added after a media screening, “There’s not a single event in the film that hasn’t happened in a real race.”

That doesn’t mean those moments could unfold today – or that they serve as anything more than dramatic inspiration.

The Apple Original Films blockbuster, with scenes shot during Grand Prix weekends, is a redemption story, with Pitt playing aging driver Sonny Hayes on an unlikely comeback alongside a young hotshot at a struggling team.

Seven-time world champion Hamilton provided advice and is credited as a co-producer on a movie scripted for audiences unfamiliar with the sport.

Pitt’s age – 61 in real life – has been called out as unrealistic for a modern driver. But as Hamilton, 40, said when filming started in 2023: “Brad looks like he’s aging backward.”

The oldest current F1 driver is Spaniard Fernando Alonso, who will turn 44 next month. But in the 1950s, when physical demands were lower but dangers greater, Philippe Etancelin and Louis Chiron raced at 55. Luigi Fagioli won at 53.

F1 comebacks today tend to follow short absences – one or two years at most – but that wasn’t always the case.

Dutch driver Jan Lammers raced from 1979 to 1982, then spent more than a decade away, during which he won Le Mans and raced at Daytona, before returning in 1992. Italian Luca Badoer also had a 10-year gap between starts before a short-lived comeback in 2009.

Last to First

Drivers have gone from last to first in barely believable circumstances, made bold strategy calls, and won with underdog teams rarely seen as contenders.

The 2011 Canadian Grand Prix lasted more than four hours, featured six safety car deployments, and was won by Jenson Button, who at one point was at the back of the field and had two collisions, including one with McLaren teammate Hamilton.

Button made five pit stops, plus a drive-through penalty, and picked up a puncture in a race halted for two hours.

Hayes’ backstory includes racing Ayrton Senna before a crash so violent he was flung from the car still strapped to his seat, modeled on Northern Ireland’s Martin Donnelly, who crashed at Jerez during practice for the 1990 Spanish Grand Prix and was left motionless on the track.

He survived, miraculously, but never returned to F1.

Drivers have escaped blazing crashes – Frenchman Romain Grosjean after his car erupted in a fireball at the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix, and Niki Lauda, who suffered serious burns in a 1976 Nurburgring crash.

Lauda returned to racing just six weeks later.

There are nods to the “Crashgate” scandal, when Brazilian Nelson Piquet Jr. crashed deliberately at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, triggering a safety car that helped teammate Alonso win.

A female technical director? Not yet. But women have run teams and serve as strategists, race engineers and pit lane mechanics – although the movie takes considerable creative liberties on that front.

For longtime fans, there’s an Easter egg: a glimpse of the Monza banking in homage to the 1966 film Grand Prix. F1 director Joseph Kosinski said that classic, along with Steve McQueen’s 1971 film Le Mans, served as inspiration.

“Those movies are now almost 60 years old, but you can still watch them and marvel at the cinematography and the feeling of being there,” he said.

“The whole practical nature of this film was inspired by those classics.”

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Substitutes retreat to locker rooms, practices canceled, jerseys drenched – the relentless heat wave sweeping across much of the United States is pushing players at the FIFA Club World Cup to their physical limits.

The punishing conditions offer a scorching preview of what players and fans might face next summer during the 2026 World Cup, hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

“It’s impossible – brutally hot,” Atletico Madrid’s Marcos Llorente said after facing Paris Saint-Germain. “My toes were sore, even my toenails hurt. I couldn’t stop or start. But since it’s the same for everyone, there are no excuses.”

A stagnant “heat dome” of high pressure has gripped the central and eastern U.S., sending temperatures soaring above 32 degrees Celsius (90 degrees Fahrenheit), with heat indexes climbing even higher.

It’s a dangerous mix for both players and fans, heightening the risk of dehydration, muscle cramps and potentially life-threatening conditions such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

“In Europe it’s more of a dry heat, and this is more of a humid heat. I think it’s going to hit them twice as hard,” fan Tyler Fernando said before Bayern Munich’s match against Benfica on Tuesday in Charlotte, North Carolina, where the temperature was 36 degrees Celsius (97 degrees Fahrenheit) at game time.

Spectators at the Auckland City match against Boca Juniors in Nashville on Tuesday also endured temperatures in the mid-30s degrees Celsius (mid-90s degrees Fahrenheit). Male fans went shirtless, and many sought out shaded sections.

Heat is a particular concern during tournaments like the Club World Cup because players don’t have much time to recover between games. In the group stage, matches are usually staggered daily, meaning some teams play under the midday sun.

Chelsea cut short a practice session in Philadelphia, where temperatures reached above 32 degrees Celsius (90 degrees Fahrenheit).

“I always try to avoid excuses; I always try to be honest. It’s not about excuses, it’s about reality. It’s an excuse when it’s not hot and we say it’s hot – that’s an excuse. But if it’s hot, it’s hot. We’re here, and we’re trying to do our best,” Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca said.

During a match between Borussia Dortmund and Mamelodi Sundowns, Dortmund posted on social media: “Our subs watched the first half from inside the locker room to avoid the blazing sun at TQL Stadium – never seen that before, but in this heat, it absolutely makes sense.”

“We always think about how we can help the team, how we can minimize a negative influence. And it was just very, very hot. We had cooling sticks to help the players. We had them waiting in the dressing room with air conditioning,” Dortmund coach Niko Kovac said through an interpreter. “This was very important for all of us. It’s not only about tactics, but also about minimizing the load and the stress. The stress is already high enough.”

FIFA guidelines mandate cooling breaks when the wet-bulb globe temperature – a composite of factors including temperature and humidity – reaches 32 degrees Celsius (89.6 degrees Fahrenheit). The breaks usually occur around the 30th and 75th minutes.

Cooling breaks were first used at the 2008 Olympic final between Lionel Messi’s Argentina and Nigeria at Beijing’s National Stadium, where the on-field temperature reached 42 degrees Celsius (107 degrees Fahrenheit).

At the time, such breaks were rare. They became more common after the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, where a Brazilian labor court ordered hydration breaks when the wet-bulb globe temperature reached 32 degrees Celsius (89.6 degrees Fahrenheit).

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue took to social media to urge Club World Cup fans to exercise caution in the heat before Inter Miami’s match against Palmeiras on Monday night. Chelsea also posted “heat mitigation” guidelines on its official website before its match against Esperance on Tuesday.

It’s not just high temperatures that impact summer tournaments – five Club World Cup matches have been delayed by thunderstorms.

Climate will be an increasing concern for FIFA as global temperatures rise. Sixteen cities will host World Cup games next year. Five of the stadiums have roofs to provide some sun protection.

In Mexico, venues in Mexico City and Guadalajara could be impacted by hurricane season, while Monterrey regularly sees summer temperatures above 32 degrees Celsius (90 degrees Fahrenheit).

Following the 2026 World Cup, the 2030 edition will be held in Morocco, Spain and Portugal. And the issue isn’t limited to the men’s game: The 2027 Women’s World Cup is set to be played in Brazil.

Peter Crisp of Fossil Free Football said, “Scheduling matches in no-shade stadiums in the middle of the day and promoting oil-dependent sponsors shows FIFA is dangerously out of touch with the threat extreme heat poses to its major summer tournaments.”

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Kirsty Coventry made history Monday as she was inaugurated as the first woman and first African president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on the organization’s 131st anniversary, with tributes declaring the Olympic movement is “in the best of hands.”

The 41-year-old, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in swimming for Zimbabwe, will officially assume office Tuesday after winning a decisive seven-candidate election in March to succeed Thomas Bach.

Coventry, a mother of two, credited her family, especially her young daughters, as “my rocks, my inspiration” as she prepares to lead the IOC through the next eight years, including the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles.

“You are my constant reminders of why we do what we do every single day,” Coventry said, addressing 6-year-old Ella, seated near the front of the ceremony.

“You are a constant reminder of why this movement is relevant, why it needs to change, why we need to embrace the new ways,” the new president said. “And you will be a constant reminder for many years to come on the decisions that we all take together.”

She thanked her husband, Tyrone Seward, saying, “You have always stood by my side and never said, ‘No.’ And I appreciate that because that is something that doesn’t come very often.”

Coventry, a former swim team standout at Auburn University, said Olympic leaders are “guardians of a platform … to inspire, to change lives, to bring hope.”

Bach’s voice cracked with emotion minutes earlier as he handed over a symbolic key to the presidency to his protege in Olympic politics.

The 71-year-old German lawyer, an Olympic team fencing champion in 1976, leaves after the maximum 12 years in office. He said the IOC was now in the “best of hands” with Coventry.

“I believe with all my heart that the Olympic movement is ready for the future,” said Bach, adding he had “given all I could” to the IOC and the Games.

The ceremony took place in a temporary structure in the gardens of Olympic House, designed in the style of the Grand Palais in Paris, which hosted fencing and taekwondo at the Summer Games last year.

On a steamy, humid day at the IOC’s lakeside headquarters, a sudden downpour minutes before the scheduled start forced Bach and Coventry to share an umbrella as they walked from the villa that was once the Olympic home.

The hour-long ceremony included a four-minute tribute montage to Bach, who has now become the IOC’s honorary president. He has expressed a wish to counsel his successor.

Coventry’s first day in office will include a closed-door session to hear the views of around 100 IOC members. They include current and former heads of state, business leaders and billionaires, past and current Olympic athletes, and leaders of Olympic sports.

In a team photo taken after the handover, the IOC member who stayed closest to Coventry was Nita Ambani, a member of India’s richest family and a key figure in the country’s bid to host the 2036 Olympics.

Choosing the host city shapes up as one of the biggest decisions of the new president’s first term.

Asia appears favored, with Middle East neighbors Qatar and Saudi Arabia also preparing bids under the IOC’s more flexible and less predictable process that allows fast-tracking a preferred candidate to avoid a contested vote.

A theme voiced by Coventry’s election opponents – including IOC Vice President Juan Antonio Samaranch – was a desire for more consultation and shared decision-making after Bach’s hands-on presidency. Their first opportunity to speak comes Tuesday.

“It’s an important step to listen and to give people the opportunity to talk,” said William Blick, an IOC member from Uganda, welcoming the powerful symbol of electing the first IOC leader from Africa, who is also a young woman. “It’s a very good way for her to start.”

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Lionel Messi is poised for a mouthwatering showdown with former club Paris Saint-Germain after Inter Miami secured a place in the Club World Cup last 16 on Monday.

Miami advanced as Group A runners-up following a dramatic 2-2 draw with Palmeiras, who clawed back from two goals down to finish top.

The MLS side now braces for an all-Brazil last-16 clash with Botafogo, which edged through Group B in second despite a 1-0 loss to Atletico Madrid, eliminating the Spaniards in the process.

Champions of Europe PSG won their group with a 2-0 victory over the Seattle Sounders, paving the way for a clash with Messi and surprise package Miami.

Goals from Tadeo Allende and Luis Suarez had Miami on course for a second win in the tournament after their shock victory over Porto.

But Palmeiras struck twice in the last 10 minutes at Hard Rock Stadium through Paulinho and Mauricio to ensure they topped the group.

Suarez, Messi, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and Miami coach Javier Mascherano will also face their former coach Luis Enrique, who guided them to the treble while in charge at Barcelona in 2015.

“We’re talking about the champions of Europe. We know many of their players and their coach, who I was lucky enough to have coach me, and I’ve always said he is the best in the world,” said Alba.

“I will connect with good friends there, but once the game starts, we will compete, try to beat them, and why can’t we do it? This is football.”

Mascherano said Miami’s progress had elevated Major League Soccer.

“It’s a historic night for MLS, because we are into the best 16 teams in the world. All of the MLS has to be proud of Inter Miami,” he said.

Portuguese side Porto and Egypt’s Al Ahly were eliminated after a thrilling 4-4 draw, which wasn’t enough for either team to overtake Palmeiras or Miami.

European champions PSG bounced back from their surprise defeat to Botafogo with a comfortable win in Seattle.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Achraf Hakimi scored on either side of halftime as the Ligue 1 champions advanced as group winners due to Botafogo’s late defeat to Atletico Madrid in Pasadena.

“It wasn’t easy because the pitch was very different from what we are used to in Europe, so we couldn’t play with the fluidity that we like, but we adapted,” said PSG coach Enrique.

PSG top scorer Ousmane Dembele played no part for a third game running after traveling to the tournament with an injury.

Atletico out

Atletico’s 4-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in their opener left them needing a big win against Botafogo to progress.

Former France international Antoine Griezmann scored the game’s only goal, lashing home a Julian Alvarez cross in the 87th minute to give Atletico a win that ultimately proved in vain.

“We’re frustrated that we didn’t qualify – we had six points,” Atletico coach Diego Simeone said.

“At the end of the day, we were punished because it wasn’t enough.”

Atletico needed a two-goal swing and were frustrated by unawarded penalty appeals.

“I’ve never seen anything like it, to be honest. I think we should have been awarded two penalties,” said winger Giuliano Simeone, the coach’s son.

On Tuesday, already qualified Bayern Munich faces Benfica and eliminated Auckland City takes on Boca Juniors in Group C, with one more last-16 spot up for grabs.

Later, Premier League side Chelsea meets Esperance Tunis, with the winner advancing alongside Flamengo, who face Los Angeles FC.

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