The Blues are in Philadelphia tonight looking for the point needed to reach the Club World Cup knockout stage. A deserved defeat to Flamengo last week delayed Chelsea's progress party, but they will meet Benfica in the last-16 stage on Sunday with a draw tonight.
Nicolas Jackson was sent off as second-half goals from Bruno Henrique, Danilo and Wallace Yan brushed the Blues aside last time out, and Enzo Maresca will be demanding improvement against a team with also one win and one defeat to their name, having also lost to Flamengo and beaten LAFC.
It leaves the two teams level on points heading into this Group D decider, but as they boast a goal difference one better than their Tunisian counterparts, then a point is enough for Chelsea to advance. ES Tunis, though, need to win so must take the game to the Blues in Philly. Follow the game LIVE below with our dedicated match blog, featuring expert insight and analysis from Dom Smith.
ES Tunis vs Chelsea latest news
- GOAL! George settles easy win
- GOAL! Delap scores first ever Chelsea goal
- GOAL! Tosin heads home the opener
Full-time!
04:01 , Alex Young98min: And that’s full-time!
Chelsea will play Benifca in the last-16 stage this weekend.
GOAL!
04:00 , Alex Young97min: George adds a third at the death, squeezing the ball beyond Ben Said from 25 yards!
ES Tunis 0-2 Chelsea
03:58 , Alex Young94min: George cuts onto his left and drives a nice shot at Ben Said.
ES Tunis 0-2 Chelsea
03:54 , Alex Young90min: Guiu runs through and is denied by Ben Said. A good, big save from the ES Tunis keeper.
ES Tunis 0-2 Chelsea
03:5389min: Seven minutes added on, for some reason.
ES Tunis 0-2 Chelsea
03:47 , Alex Young82min: Gusto is replaced by Sarr, also on for his debut.
ES Tunis 0-2 Chelsea
03:44 , Alex Young81min: Now it’s time for a cooling break, which will probably be shorter than that VAR check.
Dom Smith reports
03:43 , Alex YoungIt took an awfully long time, and I feel they've made the wrong call. It clearly hits his hand. How is that not a penalty?
NO PENALTY!
03:42 , Alex Young79min: Nkunku was all set to take the penalty, but the referee is told by VAR to have a second look, and the decision is overturned!
PENALTY TO CHELSEA!
03:39 , Alex Young76min: George’s shot hits Meriah’s hand.
Dom Smith reports
03:38 , Alex YoungPlenty of time on the ball for the Chelsea players now. Tunis look tired and accepting of the fact that Enzo Maresca's side are cruising into the round of 16 at their expense.
ES Tunis 0-2 Chelsea
03:33 , Alex Young70min: Referee gives a goal kick, then changes his mind to give ES Tunis a corner. It is clearly never a corner, so the referee changes his mind again. Chelsea goal kick.
ES Tunis 0-2 Chelsea
03:31 , Alex Young68min: Madueke the next to depart, as he is replaced by George. Fernandez also makes way, replaced by Andrey Santos.
ES Tunis 0-2 Chelsea
03:30 , Alex Young67min: Tell you what, though, the fight has not left the ES Tunis fans. They have not stopped singing since before the first whistle.
ES Tunis 0-2 Chelsea
03:27 , Alex Young64min: Madueke fizzes a shot narrowly wide of the far post. Should have been 3-0.
ES Tunis 0-2 Chelsea
03:26 , Alex Young63min: As Dom said earlier, the fight has gone out of ES Tunis in this half. Chelsea are strolling to a comfortable victory.
Dom Smith reports
03:23 , Alex YoungFans will be delighted to see a half-hour cameo for Dario Essugo here. The Portuguese makes his second appearance for the club. Let's see how he gets on.
ES Tunis 0-2 Chelsea
03:22 , Alex Young59min: Delap gets a standing ovation as he is replaced. Lavia also makes way.
ES Tunis 0-2 Chelsea
03:21 , Alex Young58min: Guiu and Essugo are being prepped.
ES Tunis 0-2 Chelsea
03:19 , Alex Young56min: Jabri is replaced by Rodrigo Rodrigues.
Dom Smith reports
03:16 , Alex YoungLovely move between Dewsbury-Hall, Delap and Enzo Fernandez. You sense Chelsea are in the mood for more goals.
Certainly, ES Tunis have dropped off in this second half, probably shell-shocked by those two goals in quick succession just before the break.
ES Tunis 0-2 Chelsea
03:15 , Alex Young52min: Great movement from Delap to tee up Fernandez on the edge of the area, but his toe-poked effort spins over the bar.
ES Tunis 0-2 Chelsea
03:13 , Alex Young50min: Nkunku takes a tumble inside the area, but the referee isn’t interested. It looked soft.
ES Tunis 0-2 Chelsea
03:11 , Alex Young48min: Guenichi with a speculative shot from 25 yards, which sails high and wide.
ES Tunis 0-2 Chelsea
03:09 , Alex Young46min: Derbali is on for Mokwana.
Second half!
03:08 , Alex Young46min: We’re back underway!
ES Tunis manager Maher Kanzari was booked during half-time, not entirely sure why.
Here come the players for the second half.
Two goals, almost out of nothing, and Chelsea went from toiling to strolling.
It really was such a well-taken goal by Delap, though the ES Tunis keeper made it even easier for him.
We may see changes at the break.
Dom Smith reports
02:55 , Alex YoungReally excellent first Chelsea goal by Liam Delap. Strength, skill, composure. Showed everything he's about.
Half-time!
02:52 , Alex Young51min: And that’s the break! Chelsea have this one surely wrapped up with a quickfire double.
GOAL!
02:51 , Alex Young50min: Goooooooooooooal! That is superb from Delap for his first Chelsea goal!
He takes the ball with his back to goal, on the edge of the area, turns his defender, cuts inside area and side-foots a shot past the motionless keeper.
GOAL!
02:49 , Alex Young48min: Chelsea lead! Tosin nods in Fernandez’s floated free kick, dropping it inside the far post.
Lovely cushioned effort, just before half-time!
ES Tunis 0-0 Chelsea
02:47 , Alex Young46min: Madueke looks to have the beating of his man again, but gets the ball stuck under his feet, so lays it off to Fernandez to have a pop... which flies well wide.
ES Tunis 0-0 Chelsea
02:46 , Alex Young45min: Five minutes added on.
ES Tunis 0-0 Chelsea
02:44 , Alex Young42min: Madueke finally beats his man, and then another! But cannot find Delap or Nkunku in the centre.
ES Tunis 0-0 Chelsea
02:40 , Alex Young40min: Maresca turns and moans to his bench.
ES Tunis 0-0 Chelsea
02:39 , Alex Young39min: ES Tunis are holding their shape very well. Madueke time and again shaping to take on his man, only to turn around and pass back to a team-mate.
ES Tunis 0-0 Chelsea
02:37 , Alex Young36min: Acheampong with a fine effort from 25 yards, which almost catches the ES Tunis keeper out, who parries as far as Delap who is offside.
ES Tunis 0-0 Chelsea
02:36 , Alex Young35min: Chelsea prod and probe their opponents on the edge of the area, but cannot find the breakthrough, ending with Badiashile having a pop from 25 yards to win a corner.
ES Tunis 0-0 Chelsea
02:32 , Alex Young32min: Time for a cooling break.
Dom Smith reports
02:30 , Alex YoungReally poor delivery from Dewsbury-Hall, far too easy for the goalkeeper to gather. Chelsea are proving a frustrating watch at the moment, failing to really cut through.
ES Tunis 0-0 Chelsea
02:30 , Alex Young30min: Dewsbury-Hall floats in the delivery, and it sails into Ben Said’s grateful grasp.
ES Tunis 0-0 Chelsea
02:29 , Alex Young28min: Another free kick for Chelsea as Tougai’s knee connects with Delap’s back on the edge of the area.
ES Tunis 0-0 Chelsea
02:27 , Alex Young26min: It’s all a bit scrappy at the moment, from both teams. Both could do with being a tad more patient.
Dom Smith reports
02:24 , Alex YoungFIFA president Gianni Infantino is watching on in Philadelphia.
ES Tunis 0-0 Chelsea
02:24 , Alex Young23min: He looks like he’s OK to continue.
ES Tunis 0-0 Chelsea
02:23 , Alex Young22min: ES Tunis keeper Ben Said is struggling with cramp, or perhaps something more serious, so a pause in play.
Dom Smith reports
02:22 , Alex YoungGusto's cross was so inviting there. It deserved a better header than the one Dewsbury-Hall applied, in truth. But Chelsea are pushing.
ES Tunis 0-0 Chelsea
02:21 , Alex Young20min: Dewsbury-Hall goes close, getting on the end of a great Gusto cross but could not direct it goalwards.
ES Tunis 0-0 Chelsea
02:18 , Alex Young18min: Fernandez whips in the free kick from out on the left, Ben Said comes out to punch away at the far post.
ES Tunis 0-0 Chelsea
02:17 , Alex Young17min: Oof, Ben Ali goes in hard on Madueke to leave the Chelsea winger in a heap. The ES Tunis defender is lucky to avoid a yellow card, there.
ES Tunis 0-0 Chelsea
02:16 , Alex Young15min: Fernandez is sent scampering into the area to chase a long ball over the top from defence, but Ben Said is quick off his line to collect.
ES Tunis 0-0 Chelsea
02:15 , Alex Young13min: First shot on target goes to Chelsea and to Delap, who holds off two challenges before firing low from the edge of the area straight at the keeper.
Dom Smith reports
02:13 , Alex YoungIt should come as no surprise, but Chelsea are opting to drop off when ES Tunis have the ball, preserving their energy rather than pressing intently.
Feels a decent shout that, given, you know, it's the hottest day Philadelphia has experienced since 1994. Can't really accuse them of laziness...
ES Tunis 0-0 Chelsea
02:12 , Alex Young11min: ES Tunis finding far more of the ball now.
ES Tunis 0-0 Chelsea
02:08 , Alex Young8min: ES Tunis clear the corner with ease.
ES Tunis 0-0 Chelsea
02:08 , Alex Young7min: Madueke wins another corner.
ES Tunis 0-0 Chelsea
02:07 , Alex Young6min: ES Tunis need to win tonight, remember, and they aren’t messing around. Yan Sasse flies in on Lavia inside the Chelsea area to concede a free kick.
ES Tunis 0-0 Chelsea
02:06 , Alex Young5min: Out of nothing, ES Tunis are through on goal and perhaps should be ahead!
Jabri is fed into the final third, takes a good first touch but his second into the area allows Gusto to get back and cover.
Dom Smith reports
02:04 , Alex YoungOne of those half-knock-on, half-shot headers from Badiashile. Unlucky, but a decent start from Chelsea, keen to get going early doors.
ES Tunis 0-0 Chelsea
02:04 , Alex Young4min: After a slight delay, Dewsbury-Hall whips in the corner, Badiashile meets it but doesn’t get a clean connection.
ES Tunis 0-0 Chelsea
02:033min: Already whistles from the Tunisia fans as their team are struggling to get a touch. Madeuek wins an early corner.
ES Tunis 0-0 Chelsea
02:02 , Alex Young2min: Chelsea, all in white, making sure (almost) every player gets an early touch.
Kick-off!
02:00 , Alex Young1min: Here we go!
The teams are out.
Maresca on team news to DAZN
01:55 , Alex Young"We have played every three days and with these conditions [due to the heat], we wanted to give time for rest and recovery. The ones that are out are also very tired.
“[Andrey Santos] is working well. He needs to understand how we play. It's [the case] for all of the new ones. It's important for the new ones to continue in the way they are working."
The teams are back in their air-conditioned dressing rooms. Not long now.
Final prep ahead of kick-off.
Dom Smith reports
01:38 , Alex YoungChelsea will benefit from a smidge of good luck today. ES Tunis are without their top scorer, best player and talisman, Youcef Belaïli, because he is suspended after picking up yellow cards in both of their first two Club World Cup matches.
That will only add to the pressure on the Blues as strong favourites to win and progress.
Liam Delap gets his second start for Chelsea tonight. He is still looking for his first goal.
It’s still very hot in Philadelphia, with a little over half an hour until kick-off.
Confirmed ES Tunis team news
01:12 , Alex YoungES Tunis XI: Ben Said, Ben Hmida, Tougai, Meriah, Benali, Guennichi, Ogbelu, Konate, Sasse, Mokwana, Jabri
Subs: Memiche, Debchi, Jelassi, Bouchniba, Ben Mohamed, Koudhai, Derbali, Tka, Rodrigues, Dhaou, Jbeli
Dom Smith checks in
01:07 , Alex YoungIt is little surprise that Christopher Nkunku starts. Asked about him in his press conference yesterday, Enzo Maresca said the Frenchman, rumoured with a potential move to Manchester United, has trained well over the past five days and would get minutes against ES Tunis.
Maresca went on to outline that changes would be made and plenty of players who had competed in the first two games would be given a rest in the heat.
But for so many of those senior players to be rested leaves Chelsea's line-up looking very raw. Those who are in from the off know they must step up to seal a spot in the round of 16.
Atmosphere is building.
That is a very interesting line-up from Maresca.
No Palmer, Caicedo, James, Colwill, Cucurella, Neto, Andrey Santos... the list goes on. Jorgensen starts in goal and Nkunku starts.
Chelsea team news in full
Wednesday 25 June 2025 00:45 , Alex YoungChelsea XI: Jorgensen; Gusto, Tosin, Badiashile, Acheampong; Lavia, Dewsbury-Hall; Madueke, Fernandez, Delap, Nkunku
Subs: Sanchez, Penders, James, Chalobah, Colwill, Sarr, Anselmino, Cucurella, Essugo, Andrey Santos, Palmer, George, Neto, Guiu
Chelsea XI
Wednesday 25 June 2025 00:42 , Alex YoungHere’s how the Blues look!
Chelsea's XI to face ES Tunis. 🫡 pic.twitter.com/SJ6EzH8pVT
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) June 24, 2025
A record-breaking scorcher, in fact!
It's official! As of 2 PM, the Philadelphia Int'l Airport has reached 100° for the first time in 13 years, when the high was 100° on July 18, 2012. This breaks the daily record high temperature of 99° set in 1923, & is the first 100° temperature to occur in June since 1994. #PAwx
— NWS Mount Holly (@NWS_MountHolly) June 24, 2025
Scorcher in Philly
Wednesday 25 June 2025 00:36 , Alex YoungIt’s so hot today in Philadelphia that even the police dogs are wearing protective footwear.
Jackson ban extended
Wednesday 25 June 2025 00:30 , Alex YoungNicolas Jackson will be absent tonight as he starts a suspension after his red card for a studs-up tackle during the 3-1 defeat to Brazilian side Flamengo.
Jackson will miss two matches after his initial ban was increased by FIFA's disciplinary committee and will be unavailable if Chelsea reach the last 16.
'Impossible' for Chelsea to train as normal
Wednesday 25 June 2025 00:20 , Alex YoungEnzo Maresca says it has proven “impossible” for Chelsea to do their usual training regimes at the Club World Cup, because of the soaring temperatures in the United States.
They trained on Monday morning (local time) in 34-degree conditions, with the length of the session shortened to combat exhaustion.
“It’s almost impossible to train, to make sessions because of the weather. We are just trying to save our energy for the game,” Maresca said.
“This morning’s session has been very, very, very short. It's not easy with these conditions, but we are going to try to do our best."
Maresca added: “It's the reality. It's difficult to work with these temperatures. But we are here, and we will try to win tomorrow's game.”
Permutations
Wednesday 25 June 2025 00:07 , Alex YoungAfter beating LAFC in their Club World Cup opener, Chelsea will require just one point to confirm their place in the next stage of the competition.
Should they lose to Tunis and see LAFC beat Flamengo, it would become a question of goal difference.
ES Tunis vs Chelsea prediction
Tuesday 24 June 2025 23:57 , Alex YoungMaresca has a tricky Club World Cup question to answer as he takes to the Lincoln Financial Field dugout for the second time in the small hours of Wednesday morning. Was last week’s loss to Flamengo a blip, or was it symptomatic of a deeper problem?
Given Chelsea’s stature as one of the wealthiest clubs in world football, it would be nothing short of embarrassing to fail to exit the group stage in Philadelphia. As such, Maresca will take no chances.
There should be no more tactical experiments in this tie. With a strong squad on the pitch and a return to a more familiar formula, Tunis should not pose the Blues too much of an issue.
Chelsea to win, 3-1
Predicted Chelsea XI (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; Gusto, Chalobah, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez; Neto, Palmer, Madueke; Delap
Early Chelsea team news
Tuesday 24 June 2025 23:42 , Alex YoungChelsea manager Enzo Maresca could make changes to his line-up following their disappointing 3-1 defeat to Flamengo last time out.
The Blues know that defeat will see them eliminated at the group stage of the Club World Cup.
There will be no appearance from Nicolas Jackson, who is suspended following his straight red card four minutes after coming off the bench against Flamengo.
A second start is therefore likely to be handed to Liam Delap, who assisted on his debut in the 2-0 win of Los Angeles FC and made his full debut last time out.
Reece James was poor in midfield against Flamengo and subsequently absent from training through illness ahead of the Tunis match, meaning he may be set miss out. Colwill was also ill leading up to the tie, but trained through the issue.
Noni Madueke is likely to return to the front four from the off, and many fans will hope there is space in the team for the talented 21-year-old midfielder Andrey Santos.
Pedro Neto has scored in both of Chelsea’s games in the United States so far and is expected to start.
Axel Disasi, Djordje Petrovic, Raheem Sterling and Joao Felix were left out of the Club World Cup squad ahead of their likely exits from the club, while Wesley Fofana remains injured.
How to watch ES Tunis vs Chelsea
Tuesday 24 June 2025 23:35 , Alex YoungTV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on 5 (formerly known as Channel 5), which is free-to-air. Coverage starts at 1am BST in the early hours of Wednesday morning, with kick-off at 2am.
Live stream: Viewers can also watch the action live online via channel5.com and the DAZN website, which are both free with a registration.
DAZN is the global broadcaster of the new-look Club World Cup and will show all 63 matches of the competition.
No subscription is required to watch the game, with the entire tournament available to their 'Freemium' members, which means you only need to sign up for a free DAZN account.
Welcome
Tuesday 24 June 2025 23:29 , Alex YoungChelsea will close out their Club World Cup group stage tonight when they meet ES Tunis in Philadelphia.
Progression to the knockout stage is not yet confirmed for the Blues after they suffered a surprise defeat to Flamengo last time out, losing 3-1 after leading at the break. They will face Benfica in the knockout stage should they draw tonight.
Nicolas Jackson, relegated to the bench as Liam Delap made his full debut, was shown a red card mere minutes after his introduction for a rash studs-up tackle, casting further doubt on his future in Enzo Maresca’s side.
Tunis, the so-called ‘Beast of Africa’, lost 2-0 to Flamengo in their debut at the new-look competition, before scraping a 1-0 win over LAFC by way of Youcef Belaïli’s 70th-minute strike. The striker will be suspended for Wednesday’s tie, though, having picked up bookings in both of Tunis’ prior Club World Cup ties.
The tie will be the first time Chelsea have ever faced an African side in a competitive fixture. Likewise, it will be the first time Tunis meet an English side in a competitive tie.
