PSG and Real Madrid meet in a delectable European heavyweight semifinal clash at the FIFA Club World Cup. The previous two UEFA Champions League winners fight for the last place in the final of the FIFA Club World Cup (CWC) as Real Madrid face Paris Saint-Germain in an epoch encounter at the 82,500-capacity MetLife Stadium, which is located just outside New York.
Real are looking to bring their record sixth CWC title home while PSG must lift this trophy to seal a unique quintuple of honours in one season. The battle has added seasoning with superstar Kylian Mbappe, a former PSG player, facing his former team for the first time since joining Real Madrid last season.
Real started their CWC campaign with a 1-1 draw vs. Al Hilal in Miami, then thrashed Mexican club Pachuca 3-1 in a repeat of their FIFA Intercontinental final in December. The Spaniards made a soothing entry into the knockout stages by routing RB Salzburg 3-0 in the final group game on June 27.
In the round of 16, Real staged a hard-fought 1-0 victory over age-old foes Juventus at Hard Rock Stadium. They then edged out a five-goal thriller to send Borussia Dortmund packing 3-2 in a 2024 Champions League final rematch, topped off by Mbappe’s breathtaking match-winning bicycle kick in the 94th minute.
They began their Club World Cup with a comprehensive 4-0 win over Atletico Madrid at the iconic Rose Bowl in Los Angeles. In their second group game, the European champions were stunned 1-0 by Botafogo after Igor Jesus’ first-half strike was the game-winner for the Brazilian team.
PSG bounced back in their final group match to defeat hosts Seattle 2-0 at Lumen Field to comfortably qualify for the knockout stage. In the last 16, the French side demolished Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami 4-0 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
In the quarterfinal, they hit top gear, crushing the challenge of German champions Bayern Munich to win 2-0 and cruise into the last four of the tournament.
Real Madrid have scored 11 goals in the Club World Cup thus far, with PSG on 12; both teams have benefited from the return of their injured star forwards, with Ousmane Dembele and Mbappe scoring against them in the quarterfinals.
The two strikers, who played together for PSG until Mbappe’s transfer to Real Madrid in June 2024 and started together for the French national team, posted phenomenal scoring numbers during the 2024-25 season.
Mbappe’s brilliant goal against Dortmund on Saturday was his 44th this season in 58 Real Madrid games.
Dembele, on the other hand, flourished after Mbappe’s exit from the Paris club, converting to the attacking talisman position in coach Luis Enrique’s set-up, netting 34 goals in 51 games in all competitions in 2024-25 and leading PSG to domestic and continental titles.
“I feel fantastic. It’s the greatest period of my career,” Dembele said to PSG’s official website. “I came to PSG to experience moments like this. It’s been a remarkable year, personally, for me and the whole team. It’s wonderful. But we want more. Once you’ve tasted it [championships], you want more.”
