Club World Cup Preview: Fluminense

In partnership with

Hooligan Soccer

·11 giugno 2025

Club World Cup Preview: Fluminense

The twenty-third in our continuing series highlighting all thirty-two clubs in the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup. The event starts on Saturday, June 14th.

Club Background

From: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
How They Qualified: Won the 2023 CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores in record-breaking fashion, accumulating 39 points through group and knockout stage performances.
Best CWC Finish: This will be their second trip. In 2023 they were runners-up.

Recent Form: They currently sit in 7th place in the Brazil Betano. They’re totally dominating Group A in the Copa Libertadores (undefeated in six matches). From May 8th through June 1st they played eight games, an average of a game every 3.1 days. The CWC schedule will seem light by comparison (four days between fixtures).
Facts: They are the oldest soccer club in Rio (founded in 1902). Located in the Laranjeires neighborhood, which is next to Flamengo and Botafogo. Unsurprisingly, they have a rivalry with these two clubs, who also happen to be in this tournament. Bring on the derby! The team is 75% Brazilian, and 100% South American. The non-Brazilians include: 3 URU, 3 COL, 2 ARG, 1 PAR The two oldest players in the tournament play here: goalkeeper Fábio (44) and defender Thiago Silva (40).

The Team

Manager: Renato Portaluppi (aka Renato Gaúcho) This is his sixth time coaching this club. Re-joined in April 2025.
Star Players: Thiago Silva Yes… that one. Veteran defender. Jhon Arias Colombian winger. Leads team with 12 assists. Germán Cano Argentinian striker who scored 14 goals before being injured in April.
Young Players: Matheus Martinelli 23 year old midfielder widely regarded as an emerging talent. They have two center midfielders named Herculés (24) and Victor Hugo (21) Literary genius and can kick a ball.
Training Sites: University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina

When to Watch

12:00pm ET on Jun 17, 2025 vs. Borussia Dortmund @ MetLife Stadium, New York, NY
6:00pm ET on Jun 21, 2025 vs. Ulsan HD @ MetLife Stadium, New York, NY
3:00pm ET on Jun 25, 2025 vs. Mamelodi Sundowns @ Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, FL

The Hooligan Take

Group F is soft. There’s absolutely no reason Fluminense should not advance, given their talent, pedigree and current run of form. Which makes me nervous. Mamelodi and Ulsan rely on Brazilian attackers, so they should be able to handle them, but either of those teams could throw a sucker punch. Grabbing any points from that first match against Dortmund will be critical.