In addition to its Club World Cup guide, Sports Talk United here presents the Group D of the competition, which will take place in the United States from June 14 to July 13, 2025.
Which teams are in Group D of the Club World Cup?
Group D is a perfect illustration of the spirit of the Club World Cup, with four clubs from four different confederations competing against each other.
The first, Flamengo, is one of the four Brazilian representatives in the competition. Current leaders of the local league, the Mengao are coming off a 2024 campaign crowned by victories in the Brazilian Cup and Supercup. Esperance Sportive de Tunis, who recently added a 35th Tunisian league title, have also achieved the same feat.
For Chelsea, the big favourites in this group, winning the Premier League still seems a tricky task. However, the London club’s triumph in the Europa League at least enabled them to salvage some breathing space at the end of a rollercoaster season.
Los Angeles FC, whose participation in the competition was made official on May 31, will be underdogs, even though the Californian club has had a rollercoaster start to the season.
How did each Group D team qualify for the Club World Cup?
CR Flamengo — Brazil (CONMEBOL)
Having won the Copa Libertadores in 2022, Flamengo took advantage of their success against Club Athletico Paranaense (as did the other three winning teams between 2020 and 2024) to book their place at the Club World Cup.
Esperance Sportive de Tunis — Tunisia (CAF)
Given the continental domination of Egyptian club Al Ahly and their three Champions League wins over the four-year qualifying period, CAF has had to review its system for allocating tickets to the competition.
As a result, the rankings were used to determine its other representatives. Esperance, who dominated the classification, took advantage of their status to secure their entry ticket.
Chelsea FC — England (UEFA)
With four of UEFA’s 12 qualifying places reserved for the last four Champions League winners, 2021 winners Chelsea have secured their ticket to the tournament via the C1.
Los Angeles FC — United States (Concacaf)
Winners of the 2023 Concacaf Champions League, Mexico’s Club Leon had initially secured a place at the Club World Cup. However, the club’s ownership structure did not comply with FIFA rules, and as a result they were stripped of their place.
And to determine who would take their place, a play-off match pitting LAFC against Club America, the federation’s top-ranked team and runners-up to Leon in 2023, was contested and won by Olivier Giroud’s team-mates.
Group D match schedule: Key dates and fixtures
Chelsea and LAFC will open Group D on June 16 at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Arena. The group’s epilogue will be known eight days later, when the last two games in the group will be played at the same time.
- June 16: Chelsea FC vs LAFC — Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta (3pm EDT, 8pm BST, 9pm CEST)
- June 16: CR Flamengo vs Esperance Sportive de Tunis — Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia (9pm EDT, 2am BST, 3am CEST)
- June 20: LAFC vs Esperance Sportive de Tunis — GEODIS Park, Nashville (7pm EDT, 1am BST, 2am CEST)
- June 20: CR Flamengo vs Chelsea FC — Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia (2pm EDT, 7pm BST, 8pm CEST)
- June 24: LAFC vs CR Flamengo — Camping World Stadium, Orlando (9pm EDT, 2am BST, 3am CEST)
- June 24: Esperance Sportive de Tunis vs Chelsea FC — Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia (9pm EDT, 2am BST, 3am CEST)
Key players to watch in Group D
Giorgian de Arrascaeta — CR Flamengo
If you follow South American football, the name Giorgian de Arrascaeta will certainly be familiar to you. A highly experienced Uruguayan attacking midfielder, the player with 53 caps for La Celeste joined Flamengo in 2019 and has established himself as a key member of the squad. Winner of numerous trophies with the Mengao, he is now their playmaker and their most decisive player in 2025.
Youcef Belaili — Esperance Sportive de Tunis
A recognised talent in African football, Youcef Belaili’s career has been full of twists and turns. Now 33 and back at Esperance, where he has played twice in recent years, the Algerian forward seems to have rediscovered the legs of his twenties. A key figure in the 2024-25 season, he scored 18 goals and provided 16 assists in 34 games in all competitions for the legendary Tunisian club.
Cole Palmer — Chelsea FC
Cole Palmer may have endured a complicated second half of the season (just one Premier League goal since January 20), but he is nonetheless one of the key men in Enzo Maresca’s system. His two assists in the final of the last edition of the Europa League Conference are perfect illustrations of this. At 23, the England international could well take advantage of this Club World Cup to add a little more to his trophy cabinet.
Denis Bouanga — LAFC
Whether you are accustomed to MLS or not, Denis Bouanga’s exploits in North America’s top flight will certainly not have escaped your notice. Scorer of 20 goals in his last two regular seasons, the Gabon striker already has eight to his name after 15 games this season.
And if LAFC are taking part in this year’s Club World Cup, the number 99 has once again had a hand in it. After all, it was his winning goal against Club America that earned the Californians a place in the starting line-up.
What’s at stake in Group D?
Given the pedigree of its participants, Group D should provide us with some interesting fixtures. And while Chelsea are the favourites, the battle between their three rivals for a place in the knockout phase promises to be intense. Get out the popcorn.
