This second of our three Group D games takes the Blues a short distance from our base to the 67,000-seater Lincoln Financial Field (pictured top), home of the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFL.

Chelsea’s previous visits to the stadium were friendlies that produced plenty of goals. In August 2004, Carlo Ancelotti’s Scudetto winners AC Milan edged a five-goal battle we had twice led.

Our second experience of the Philadelphia Eagles’ nest came against Brighton in July 2023. The Blues came from a goal down to lead 4-1, including a goal and two assists for Nico Jackson. Albion rallied after wholesale changes, but Chelsea held out for a 4-3 win.

Both today’s combatants won their opening group game 2-0. Our victory over Los Angeles featured goals from Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernandez, cleverly assisted by Jackson and debutant Liam Delap respectively.

Like Enzo Maresca’s men, Flamengo scored a goal in each half against ES Tunis, who take on LA later – and a draw in that match would confirm qualification for any team that claims all the points in the City of Brotherly Love.

Chelsea vs Flamengo – the history

This is our third competitive fixture against a Brazilian club, while Chelsea and Flamengo previously met as part of an international friendly tournament in the Netherlands in August 1998.

The Blues’ 5-0 win came with goals from player-manager Gianluca Vialli, Robbie Di Matteo, Gus Poyet and a brace for Dan Petrescu.

Our competitive meetings against other Brazilian clubs came in the final of this competition. A freakish goal handed Corinthians victory in December 2012, while Kai Havertz notched the winner from the spot as Chelsea beat Palmeiras in February 2022.

2025 Club World Cup regulations

There are 32 teams involved in the new, expanded format of this decades-old FIFA tournament: 12 from Europe, six South American sides, a quota of four each from Africa, Asia and Central/North America and the Caribbean and one from Oceania, with host country USA represented by Inter Miami.

Finishing first in the group would see Chelsea play the runners-up in Group C, comprising Bayern Munich, Benfica, Boca Juniors and Auckland. A second-place finish would match us against the Group C winners.

Clubs can name a matchday squad of 26, comprising 11 starters and 15 substitutes including two goalkeepers. Five replacements are allowed per match as a general rule, although teams may make one additional permanent concussion substitution per match if needed. If that happens, the opposition will then receive an additional regular substitution.

Goalline technology, VAR and a new Advanced Semi-Automated Offside system alerting assistant referees to raise their flag immediately for clear offsides, will be used in this competition. Referees have also been fitted with bodycams.

Players who accumulate two cautions must serve a one-match suspension. Single yellow cards will be cancelled after the quarter-finals. Tosin Adarabioyo, Marc Cucurella and Reece James were booked in our opening game.

The top two finishers in each group progress to the last 16. In the event of a tie, the order of teams will be decided on head-to-head points, then goal difference, goals scored and, if necessary, group goal difference and goals scored.

Know this…

Pedro Neto’s splendid strike against Los Angeles was his 15th goal contribution (7 goals, 8 assists) – he is the sixth Chelsea player to reach that mark in the 2024/25 season.

Chelsea managed 64.8 per cent possession against Los Angeles. The Blues have enjoyed over 60-plus per cent possession in 11 of our 16 matches against non-English sides in the 2024/25 season.

Before taking time off for this tournament, Flamengo were early leaders of the Brazil national league.

The icon of the Rio club is Zico, record goalscorer with 508 accrued over two spells between 1971 and 1989.

The first time Chelsea ever played under floodlights was a 1-1 draw against a Carioca team comprising players from Rio de Janeiro. It took place at the Rua Guanabara stadium, home of Flamengo’s rivals Fluminense, during our epic 1929 post-season South America tour.

Chelsea's game against Flamengo kicks off at 7pm UK time on Friday. You can watch that and every other game at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 live on DAZN. Sign up to watch for free here.