Where to watch Fluminense x Dortmund live: Tricolor seeks to surprise in the Club World Cup Por Luís Henrique Costa
7 min de leitura
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In New Jersey, Fluminense kicks off its 2025 Club World Cup campaign today, June 17, facing Borussia Dortmund at 1:00 PM (Brasília time) at MetLife Stadium. The match, valid for Group F, marks the debut of the Rio-based Tricolor in FIFA’s expanded tournament, featuring 32 teams from six continents. Led by Guinean striker Serhou Guirassy, who scored 13 goals in a single Champions League season, Dortmund is a formidable opponent. Flu, the 2023 Libertadores champion, relies on goalkeeper Fábio’s experience and coach Renato Gaúcho’s strategy to overcome the challenge. The game is pivotal for the club’s ambitions in the competition, which runs until July 13, in a group that also includes Ulsan HD and Mamelodi Sundowns.
The clash draws attention for pitting Fluminense’s solid style against Dortmund’s lethal attack. The Tricolor’s preparation involved detailed analysis of the opponent, with a focus on Dortmund’s collective strength, while not underestimating Guirassy’s individual impact. The absence of striker Yeferson Soteldo, injured, poses a challenge, but Flu trusts its experienced squad to secure a positive result. The broadcast on Disney+ with Cazé TV ensures fans can follow every moment.
- Flu’s main challenges: Neutralizing Guirassy, compensating for Soteldo’s absence, and maintaining defensive solidity.
- Dortmund’s strengths: Lethal attack, quick transitions, and tactical versatility.
- Venue factor: Neutral stadium, with no dominant fan presence.
The World Cup debut is a historic moment for Fluminense, aiming to make its mark in a revamped, highly competitive tournament.
Guirassy’s weight in the debut
Serhou Guirassy, 29, is Borussia Dortmund’s primary weapon. Born in France and naturalized Guinean, the striker is at the peak of his career. After shining at Stuttgart, where he scored 30 goals in 30 games in the 2023/24 season, he joined Dortmund in 2024 for 17.5 million euros. In 2025, Guirassy has netted 40 goals in 51 matches, including 23 in the Bundesliga and 13 in the Champions League, surpassing historical marks by Haaland and Lewandowski at the club. His finishing ability, combined with physical strength and chance creation, makes him a constant threat.
Coach Renato Gaúcho acknowledged the difficulty of marking the Guinean but stressed the importance of neutralizing Dortmund’s entire offensive system. Flu’s defense, anchored by Fábio and 2.01-meter-tall center-back Gustavo Ramalho, faces a tough test against Guirassy’s aerial plays and infiltrations. Dortmund, meanwhile, relies on Julian Brandt’s creativity and Karim Adeyemi’s speed to enhance its attack.
A reinvented Club World Cup
The 2025 Club World Cup, held in the United States, is the first with FIFA’s expanded format, featuring 32 teams across eight groups. The tournament, which began on June 14, adopts a group stage model, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the round of 16. Fluminense, in Group F, faces a balanced path, but Dortmund emerges as the favorite.
Beyond the opening match, Flu has fixtures against Ulsan HD on June 21 and Mamelodi Sundowns on June 25. The final, set for July 13 at MetLife Stadium, is expected to feature giants like Real Madrid and Inter Miami. The tournament draws global attention, with stars like Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé competing, and the Fluminense-Dortmund duel is a highlight of the opening round.
- Tournament structure: 32 teams, 8 groups, knockout stage from the round of 16.
- Group F highlights: Dortmund as favorite, Flu with chances to advance.
- Flu’s matches: Dortmund (6/17), Ulsan HD (6/21), Sundowns (6/25).
- Final: July 13, at MetLife Stadium.
The new format raises the competitive bar, and Fluminense needs consistency to progress.
Tactical strategies in focus
Fluminense is likely to adopt a cautious approach in the debut, prioritizing midfield marking to block Brandt and Marcel Sabitzer’s creations. Renato Gaúcho may opt for a three-center-back system to contain Guirassy, though this could limit the attack. The speed of John Arias and Keno will be crucial in counterattacks, exploiting potential gaps in Dortmund’s defense.
Dortmund, in contrast, bets on quick transitions and high pressing. The wings, with Julian Ryerson and Ramy Bensebaini, are key weapons, while Guirassy serves as the focal point up top. Goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, known for crucial saves, poses a challenge to Flu’s attacking efforts. Soteldo’s absence reduces the Tricolor’s offensive power, but Fábio’s experience, at 44, could prove decisive in critical moments.
Numbers defining the matchup
Borussia Dortmund enters the World Cup with a devastating attack, having scored 78 goals in the 2024/25 season, 40 by Guirassy. Fluminense, with 52 goals in the year, relies on Arias and Germán Cano to find the net. The Tricolor’s defense, which conceded just 18 goals in the Brasileirão, faces an unprecedented test against the German attack.
Guirassy shines in high-stakes games, scoring in every knockout stage of the last Champions League, including the semifinal against PSG. His 0.78 goals-per-game average in 2025 outpaces Mbappé (0.71) and Haaland (0.65). Flu, meanwhile, has a trump card in Fábio: the tournament’s oldest player, who has made critical saves in international competitions.
- Dortmund’s attack: 78 goals in the season, 40 by Guirassy.
- Flu’s defense: 18 goals conceded in the Brasileirão.
- Guirassy in 2025: 0.78 goals per game, Champions League top scorer.
- Fábio: Oldest player in the World Cup, at 44.
What to expect from Group F
Group F is one of the most balanced in the Club World Cup. Dortmund leads projections with an 80.2% chance of advancing to the round of 16, per Opta. Fluminense, with a 39.4% probability, needs a strong debut to build momentum. Ulsan HD, the Asian champion, and Mamelodi Sundowns, an African powerhouse, complete the group but lack the same favoritism.
A win against Dortmund could give Flu a psychological edge for the upcoming matches. Defensive solidity and the ability to capitalize on counterattacks will be critical for the Tricolor. The neutral setting at MetLife Stadium, without a dominant crowd, creates an unpredictable atmosphere where tactical preparation will be key.
Matchup curiosities
The Fluminense-Dortmund clash brings unique details. It’s the first official meeting between the teams, adding unpredictability. Flu boasts the tournament’s oldest player, Fábio, and tallest, Gustavo Ramalho. Guirassy, meanwhile, is the third-highest scorer of 2025, with 22 goals in 26 games.
- First-time clash: No prior official matches between Flu and Dortmund.
- Guirassy: Third-highest scorer of 2025, with 22 goals.
- Fábio: Oldest player in the World Cup, at 44.
- Ramalho: Tallest center-back in the tournament, at 2.01 meters.
The duel promises to be a milestone in Flu’s campaign, with the Tricolor aiming to upset one of the favorites. The live broadcast keeps fans and analysts glued to every play, in a match that could shape Group F’s outcome.
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