The XXL Club World Cup, held this year in the United States, has been the subject of constant discussion since its announcement. This new 32-team format, inspired by the World Cup of Nations, had sparked an avalanche of criticism from many observers. Many saw it as a commercially oriented tournament, distorting the original spirit of the competition, which, until then, essentially pitted continental champions against each other in a reduced format. But above all, the widely shared idea was that the rich and powerful European clubs would dominate the competition, relegating other teams to mere supporting roles. This belief, deeply rooted in the world of football, has just been shattered by the show of strength from Brazilian football.
Four Brazilian clubs were involved: Botafogo , Flamengo , Fluminense and Palmeiras . All did their country proud, but it was Botafogo and Flamengo who particularly shone. Botafogo, qualified thanks to their excellent domestic season, created one of the biggest upsets of the group stage by beating Paris Saint-Germain, winners of the Champions League. Against all odds, the carioca club dominated the match with audacity and solidarity, thus taking the top of their group ahead of the Parisian giants. Flamengo, meanwhile, delivered a solid and controlled performance against Chelsea, recently crowned Europa Conference League champions, winning in a highly anticipated match. Thanks to this victory, the Rio club also moved into first place in their group, confirming their international stature and even officially pocketed their ticket to the round of 16 following ES Tunis' victory against LAFC.
Brazil wants to ride the wave of competition!
In other equally revealing matches, Fluminense and Palmeiras held their own against formidable opponents. The former drew with Borussia Dortmund, demonstrating defensive solidity and tactical maturity worthy of the best European teams. Currently in third place, Fluminense has two more manageable matches (against Ulsan and Malemodi) to qualify for the next round. As for Palmeiras, a regular in continental competitions, they are also first in their group after matching FC Porto in an intense match, symbolizing the restored balance between South American and European football. " PSG is the best team in the world. And Botafogo was probably the best team tonight. (…) It's a privilege for us to play against them in this format. To show that Brazilian teams can play football ," explained John Textor, owner of Botafogo. These results are not random or isolated accidents: they reflect a profound renewal in the training, organization, and mentality of Brazilian clubs, determined to no longer play second fiddle on the world stage. And Brazil intends to capitalize on these positive impressions, as the country of the Selecao could be the next host of the Club World Cup. The CBF has expressed interest in a meeting on Friday between President Samir Xaud and FIFA President Gianni Infantino, during the competition day in Miami. The information was initially revealed by the newspaper O Globo and confirmed by ESPN .
A statement widely shared by Luis Enrique, who was not at all surprised after the defeat against Botafogo: " We knew it would be a difficult match, very close. Botafogo defended very well. We had the opportunity to score, but we didn't, and the match became more difficult. We know the difficulties of this competition. It's a very intense competition. Botafogo is the team that has defended best against us this season, both in the league and the Champions League ." What seemed unthinkable a few years ago is now a reality: Brazilian football is crushing everything in its path. Although happy with the Brazilian results, former player and now Flamengo coach Filipe Luis admitted to being surprised all the same: " I'm surprised because I know the quality of European clubs, especially the elite of football, the absolute elite. There are 10 to 20 clubs in the world that are part of this elite. I'm surprised that they achieve such results." It's true that sometimes they are not used to the climate, but what I can say is that South American clubs are very competitive, we know that it is very difficult to win in the Libertadores, and it is not always the best who win, sometimes it is the most competitive, and there is a difference in the grass, the climate, the altitude, we have a lot of adaptations in our game and we are used to this climate ."
Pure passion.
What it means to the @Flamengo fans! 🙌#FIFACWC pic.twitter.com/OoSYhZEQbk
These collective performances send a clear message: Brazilian football is back on top. At the top of their groups, Botafogo and Flamengo demonstrate that South American clubs no longer come just to participate, but to win. Fluminense and Palmeiras, for their part, confirm the depth and depth of Brazilian football. Through these results, an entire system is regaining confidence, driven by locally trained talent, rediscovered playing identities, and a palpable desire to win. Faced with supposed European hegemony, Brazil serves as a reminder that passion, technique, and history are not for sale—they are proven on the pitch. And today, it is Brazilian clubs that are leading the way. These four major performances mark a turning point. Not only do they shatter the myth of European club invincibility, but they also restore South American football—and Brazil in particular—to the central role it had somewhat lost in recent decades. The entire world is witnessing the return of a historic footballing powerhouse, with clubs now capable of competing with, or even surpassing, the best. And at the heart of this silent revolution, a conviction is reborn: the future of world football could well be written in Portuguese, with the lilting accent of Rio, São Paulo, or Belo Horizonte.
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