Fluminense goes to the World Cup after a rollercoaster from Diniz to Renato and debuts against Borussia renewed

The Fluminense The team that reaches the 2025 Club World Cup is no longer the same team shaped by Fernando Diniz and champion of the 2023 Libertadores , a title that guaranteed them a place in the FIFA tournament. The coach left the club in 2024, when the team was fighting to avoid relegation in the Brasileirão . Later, Renato Gaúcho replaced Mano Menezes after the first three months of the current season.

An idol of the 1995 Rio de Janeiro title, Renato's mission was to remobilize the group of players. Fluminense took 31 players to the United States, leaving four spots for reinforcements.

Soteldo, formerly of Santos, was the first, celebrated by Renato Gaúcho. The Venezuelan, however, will only be able to enter the field if Fluminense advances to the second phase, due to a muscle injury.

Before Soteldo, president Mário Bittencourt had dreamed of Neymar . The idea was that the star would be loaned to the Rio team to play in the World Cup, if he renewed his contract with Santos. Even before deciding his future, the player refused, arguing that he would use the break to recondition himself physically.

Even so, the delegation that arrived in Columbia, North Carolina, has good news. Three players who were doubtful are now in the final stages of recovering from injuries.

The situation is more relaxed for Keno, who had a muscle problem and was out for four rounds of the Brasileirão, but is now fully fit to play. The Argentine Cano recovered from a grade 2 injury to the collateral ligament in his left knee and could return against Borussia Dortmund, even if he starts on the bench.

Uruguayan Bernal, who suffered a grade 3 injury to the adductor muscle in his left thigh, is unlikely to be fit for the debut. In the second round, however, the midfielder should be available against Ulsan.

Fluminense has two world champions and is expected to see Arias make a difference

Renato Gaúcho consecrated his career early on with the world title with Grêmio , in 1983. Today he commands Fluminense, captained by Thiago Silva, who was also world champion, with Chelsea, in 2021.

This year's tournament could pit the defender against two of his former teams: Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain. "We know it's very difficult to win, but we have one goal: to represent Fluminense well. That's our goal. Regardless of whether we play against Borussia, PSG or Chelsea, we'll always try to do our best," said the defender in an interview with FIFA.

The speech is the same as Renato's. "My team will respect any type of opponent, whether in the debut or later, and my team will always play to win. This is the way I work with my group, not only here at Fluminense. Regardless of the competition or the opponent, my team always plays to win," said the coach on the eve of the first game.

The team's star player is Jhon Arias. The 27-year-old Colombian was a reference for Diniz and Mano's teams and continues to play for Renato. Arias joined the club in 2021. The club sought him out precisely after he had stood out wearing the Santa Fé jersey against Fluminense in the Libertadores.

Currently, Arias is the third foreigner with the most appearances for Fluminense, with 223 matches. Ahead of him are only Darío Conca (272 in two spells from 2008 to 2011 and 2014 to 2015) and Russo (251 between 1933 and 1944).

The Colombian received inquiries from European football during 2024, but remained in Rio. He also stood out for the national team, which was runner-up in the Copa América.

See Fluminense's group for the 2025 Club World Cup

• Goalkeepers : Fabio, Gustavo Ramalho, Marcelo Pitaluga and Vitor Eudes
• Defenders : Freytes, Ignacio, Manoel, Thiago Santos and Thiago Silva
• Full-backs : Gabriel Fuentes, Guga, Renê and Samuel Xavier
• Midfielders : Facundo Bernal, Hercules, Isaac, Lezcano, Lima, Martinelli, Nonato, PH Ganso, Riquelme and Wallace Davi
• Forwards : Agustin Canobbio, Everaldo, German Cano, Jhon Arias, Keno, Kevin Serna, Lavega, Paulo Baya and Soteldo.

Group F experienced a 'musical chairs' of coaches

Anyone who thinks that changing coaches is a "Brazilian thing" is mistaken. The four clubs in Group F changed coaches last year.

Borussia Dortmund changed management on January 22, announcing the dismissal of Nuri Sahin. Croatian Niko Kovac was hired in his place.

In the Champions League, the German team qualified for the quarter-finals by eliminating Lille, but lost to Barcelona. Last season, they were runners-up in Europe, losing the final to Real Madrid.

In the Bundesliga, performance was poor. The team finished only in fourth place, behind Eintracht Frankfurt, Bayer Leverkusen and champion Bayern Munich.

"The most important thing for all of us now is to have the will to work hard to represent Borussia Dortmund in the best possible way," said Novac, in his presentation, in which he mentioned the Club World Cup.

The Germans are backed by Jobe Bellingham, the Real Madrid star's brother, who also played for the club. "I'm very happy to now be a Borussia Dortmund player and to be fighting for titles with this great club. I want to do my part to celebrate success with these incredible fans here. I'm very happy to be wearing the black and yellow shirt at the World Cup," he said.

Mamelodi announced the hiring of Miguel Cardoso on December 10, 2024, replacing Manqoba Mngqithi. The Portuguese, on that occasion, became the third professional to manage the South African club in a six-month period.

"We know that in Africa we are one of the biggest teams, but we also want to understand what level we can be at, when compared to different teams around the world," the coach said.

The longest-serving coach of the group is Ulsan HD. Kim Pan-gon left the Malaysian national team in July 2024 to take over the South Korean team. He replaced Hong Myungbo, who joined the South Korean national team.

"As a team representing Korea and Asia, we are under pressure to perform well against clubs from other continents. I believe that progressing to the round of 16 is crucial, and our first game against Mamelodi Sundowns will be key. After that, it will be important to close the gap and gain points against Fluminense and Borussia Dortmund," he told FIFA's website.

Fluminense will make its debut in the competition at 1 pm (Brasília time), against Borussia Dortmund, at MetLife Stadium, in New York. Next, it will face Ulsan, on the 21st, at 7 pm, at the same venue. The club will close the first phase against Mamelodi, on June 25, at 4 pm, at Hard Rock Stadium, in Miami.