The FIFA Club World Cup quarterfinals kick off with an exciting clash between Brazil's Fluminense and Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal on Friday, July 4, at the Camping World Stadium in Orlando, United States. The match, scheduled for 3 PM local time (19:00 GMT), will be broadcast live with pre-match coverage starting at 12 PM local time (16:00 GMT) on Al Jazeera Sport.
Both teams have defied expectations to reach this stage, overcoming European powerhouses in the process. Fluminense, a South American giant, secured their quarterfinal spot by defeating Inter Milan 2-0 in the round of 16, thanks to goals from German Cano and Hercules. Meanwhile, Al Hilal stunned defending champions Manchester City with a thrilling 4-3 victory after extra time, marking one of the tournament's most significant upsets.
The winner of this match will advance to face either Chelsea or Palmeiras in the semifinals, scheduled to take place at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. The quarterfinal lineup also features high-profile matches, including Paris Saint-Germain vs. Bayern Munich and Real Madrid vs. Borussia Dortmund.
Fluminense's captain, Thiago Silva, expressed confidence in his team's performance, stating, "We've played very well in this competition. It's not easy to play against European teams, but the motivation for us is different." Silva, who recently recovered from a hamstring injury, emphasized the importance of rest ahead of the match.
On the other side, Al Hilal's Marcos Leonardo, who scored twice against Manchester City, shared his emotional journey, dedicating his performance to his mother, who spent 70 days in the Intensive Care Unit. "When I scored those two goals, I thought of her—she was able to watch the match," Leonardo said.
Fluminense will be without left-back Rene due to suspension, while Al Hilal's captain, Salem Al-Dawsari, is unlikely to feature after suffering a hamstring injury. This marks the first-ever meeting between the two teams, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the match.
Fans can expect a thrilling encounter as both sides aim to continue their remarkable journeys in the FIFA Club World Cup.
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