Club World Cup: Qualification Scenarios for Espérance and Chelsea

Espérance Sportive de Tunis have reignited their fans’ hopes for a place in the round of 16 at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, thanks to a crucial victory over Los Angeles FC (1-0) on matchday two in Group D.

This win earned the Blood and Gold their first three points, putting them level with Chelsea. Meanwhile, Flamengo top the group alone, while Los Angeles FC have officially been eliminated after back-to-back defeats.

What are the scenarios for Espérance to qualify?

The second qualifying spot for the round of 16 will be contested between Espérance and Chelsea. The Tunisian club has no choice but to win on the third and final matchday. In fact, a draw will not be enough due to an inferior goal difference compared to the English side.
In contrast, Chelsea will only need a draw—or better—to book their ticket for the next round.

An Argentine referee for the group's "final"

FIFA has appointed an Argentine officiating team for this decisive encounter. Yael Falcón Pérez will be the referee, assisted by Maximiliano Del Yesso and Facundo Rodríguez. The fourth official will be China’s Ma Ning.

The match is set to kick off overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday at 1 a.m. GMT at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.

See also: Club World Cup 2025: date, time, channels for Espérance vs Chelsea

Mohamed Rek |

Editorfr, ar, en

Mohamed Rek- sports content writer with over 10 years of experience creating football content in Arabic and French for platforms such as Foot Africa and Starafrica, combining accuracy, creativity, and audience engagement.