Palmeiras, Chelsea Clash in Club World Cup Quarterfinal Philadelphia

Palmeiras and Chelsea are set to face off in the Club World Cup quarterfinals in Philadelphia, renewing their rivalry from the 2022 final where Chelsea prevailed in extra time. Palmeiras manager Abel Ferreira acknowledges Chelsea's superior resources and openly calls his team the underdog but remains confident in his squad's resilience and tactical strength. A key storyline is Palmeiras winger Estevão, who is set to join Chelsea after the tournament; despite this, Ferreira and the player emphasize his full commitment to Palmeiras during the competition. Estevão, a highly-rated 18-year-old signed by Chelsea for a substantial fee, has yet to score in the tournament but is seen as a critical contributor and potential game-changer. Ferreira expressed hope that Estevão will deliver a standout performance to bid Palmeiras farewell and demonstrate his talent to his future club. Both teams come into the match with strong recent form, with Chelsea fresh off a dominant extra-time victory over Benfica and Palmeiras advancing through a gritty win over Botafogo, setting the stage for a highly competitive encounter.