United States, July 10, 2025 – FIFA has confirmed that there will be no third-place match at the ongoing 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, meaning Real Madrid and Fluminense will not compete again in the tournament following their semi-final defeats. Real Madrid were handed a shocking 4-0 loss by Paris Saint-Germain, while Chelsea secured a 2-0 victory over Brazil’s Fluminense, setting up a PSG vs Chelsea final scheduled for Sunday. In a departure from tradition, FIFA announced that losing semi-finalists will not contest a bronze medal match, a fixture usually included in major international tournaments. “There will be no third-place match, or bronze final, at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025,” FIFA said in an official statement. “For the inaugural edition of this elite global competition, FIFA decided not to include this match to ensure that clubs and players who do not make the final can transition to their next commitments as soon as possible.” As a result, both Real Madrid and Fluminense will leave the United States ahead of the weekend, bringing an early end to their participation in the expanded tournament. The 2025 edition marks the first time the Club World Cup is being held with 32 teams, modeled after the format of the FIFA World Cup.
No third-place match at 2025 FIFA Club World Cup as Real Madrid, Fluminense exit early
