Flamengo began their Club World Cup campaign with a confident 2-0 win over Esperance. Goals from De Arrascaeta and Araújo, plus a strong debut from Jorginho, helped the Brazilian side join Chelsea at the top of Group D in style.
Brazilian Giants Off to a Great Start
Flamengo started their 2025 FIFA Club World Cup journey with a strong 2-0 win over Esperance de Tunis. They became the second Brazilian team to win their first group match, after Botafogo’s success a day earlier. This victory puts Fla Big on top of Group D along with Chelsea.
The match was played at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. From the very beginning, Flamengo looked the stronger side. They controlled the game and didn’t give Esperance many chances.
Jorginho Shines on Debut
Calm and Experienced Performance
Jorginho, who recently joined Flamengo from Arsenal, made his debut in this match. He was added to the starting lineup by coach Felipe Luis and played in the midfield. The 33-year-old showed his experience, staying calm under pressure and helping the team control the tempo of the game.
Jorginho started several counter-attacks, won fouls at smart moments, and played an important role in Flamengo’s second goal. In the 68th minute, he passed the ball to Luiz Araújo, who curled it into the net to make it 2-0. Jorginho was then substituted and left the field to applause.
De Arrascaeta Leads the Attack
Early Goal Gives Flamengo the Edge
Giorgian de Arrascaeta was the key attacker for Flamengo once again. In the 17th minute, he scored the opening goal after a smart pass from Araújo. This was De Arrascaeta’s 13th goal of the season and showed his great form.
Flamengo had been attacking down the right side of the field, and it paid off. Right-back Guillermo Varela crossed the ball, and Araújo passed it quickly to De Arrascaeta, who calmly finished from close range.
If Flamengo want to challenge Chelsea in Group D, De Arrascaeta will need to keep scoring in the next matches.
Fans Bring the Passion
Even though the stadium can hold more than 67,000 fans, only 25,797 showed up. Still, the energy was strong. Flamengo fans filled parts of Philadelphia, including the famous Rocky statue at the art museum, waving flags and taking pictures.
Esperance fans were also lively, singing and celebrating at Reading Terminal Market before the match. Inside the stadium, both sets of fans kept cheering from start to finish, creating a fun and exciting atmosphere.
What’s Next?
Flamengo will now focus on their second group game, which will decide if they move on in the tournament. They will face tougher tests ahead, but their strong start is a good sign. With Jorginho settling in and De Arrascaeta in great form, Flamengo look ready to go far in this Club World Cup.
