Flamengo Tops Espérance in Club World Cup Opener in Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA, PA — The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup kicked off Monday night at Lincoln Financial Field, where Brazilian giants Flamengo secured a 2-0 victory over Tunisia’s Espérance Sportive de Tunis. This match follows weeks of discussions about low ticket sales and protests from Seattle Sounders players.

Before the opening match, Flamengo and Espérance fans showcased vibrant support, with Flamengo supporters gathering at the top of the Art Museum’s Rocky Steps. Meanwhile, Espérance fans rallied in Times Square, NYC, waving flags and chanting in bar colors of red, yellow, and black.

As the match began, 31-year-old Uruguayan Giorgian De Arrascaeta scored the first goal for Flamengo just 17 minutes in. Assisting him was former Atlanta United winger Luiz Araujo. In the 67th minute, Flamengo’s lead doubled when Araujo placed a beautiful shot in the far right corner of the net, further securing his team’s dominance.

Flamengo head coach Felipe Luís was pleased with his team’s performance but acknowledged the challenges ahead, with Chelsea FC next on the schedule. “Now let’s think about Chelsea. It’s a tough group, but we’re happy. Players sometimes choose to slow down, but I think it was a good game,” he said.

Despite the loss, Espérance coach Maher Kanzari praised his team’s spirit. “The loss to Flamengo wasn’t a surprise. I’m satisfied with the character shown by the players,” Kanzari noted, reflecting on their efforts to recover after conceding an early goal.

With this win, Flamengo aims to build momentum as they continue in the tournament. The exuberance of fans from both teams at the match indicates that the tournament might still generate excitement and support going forward.