There were 32, but now only four. Within a flash, we have arrived at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup semifinal stage. The revamped tournament has offered a sparkling array of narratives and some epic duels between each continent’s top dogs, with the showpiece event at MetLife Stadium on July 13 edging ever closer.

Kylian Mbappé’s spectacular bicycle kick was among three goals in second-half stoppage time, and Real Madrid beat Borussia Dortmund 3-2 in a Club World Cup quarterfinal as goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois used his fingertips to palm away the potential tying goal on the game’s final play.