TUNIS, June 15, 2025 (TAP) - Espérance Sportive de Tunis are preparing to write a new chapter in their history by participating in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, which is being held from June 14 to July 13 in the United States. Representing the African continent alongside Al Ahly SC, Wydad Casablanca, and Mamelodi Sundowns, the "Blood and Gold" are aiming to shine and confirm their status as a flagship club of African football.
By taking part in this unprecedented edition of the Club World Cup—now expanded to 32 clubs—Espérance Sportive de Tunis, four-time African champions, will once again have the opportunity to face the global elite. The competition will allow the "Mkachkha" to go up against world football giants, their international stars, and their unique playing philosophies.
Drawn in Group D, Espérance will face Brazil's CR Flamengo, one of the most prestigious clubs in Brazil and South America. Flamengo won this year's Campeonato Carioca and the Brazilian Super Cup and reached the round of 16 in both the Copa do Brasil and the CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores.
Next, they will take on the Americans of Los Angeles FC, winners of the 2022 MLS Cup and qualifiers for the global tournament after their playoff victory against Mexico's Club América (2-1 in extra time).
Their final opponent will be England's Chelsea FC who, by winning the UEFA Europa Conference League this season, became the only team to have won every possible European competition. In the U.S., the English side will be aiming for their second Club World Cup title after winning it in 2021 under the previous format.
A Historic Path to Build Upon
EST head into this competition with the ambition of improving on their past performances in this prestigious tournament.
During their first appearance in 2011 in Japan, Nabil Maaloul's side at the time suffered two defeats: against Qatar's Al Sadd (1-2) in the second round and against Mexico's Monterrey (2-3) in the match for 5th place.
In 2018 in the United Arab Emirates, the Tunisian side lost to Al Ain (0-3) in the second round before beating Mexico's Deportivo Guadalajara in a penalty shootout (1-1), again in the 5th place match.
In 2019 in Qatar, their journey was not any better, losing to Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal (0-1) before defeating Al Sadd SC (6-2) in the placement match—the highest scoreline in the history of the tournament.
With this fourth participation, Espérance are now aiming to go a step further and pull off the feat of reaching the second round.
To bolster their chances, the Tunisian representatives will rely on a strong season capped by a treble—Super Cup, Cup, and Championship—under coach Maher Kanzari.
Despite a quarter-final exit in the CAF Champions League, which left a bitter taste among their supporters, Mohamed Amine Ben Hmida and his teammates appear to have maintained their morale as they head into the new American adventure in the best possible mindset.
Nevertheless, the Espérance technical staff has not made any special arrangements in preparation for the World Cup. Unlike other competing clubs, they opted to maintain their usual training schedule at Parc B in Tunis and later at their training camp in Detroit, USA, without scheduling any friendly matches.
The same approach applies to the squad selection. Kanzari stuck with the group already at his disposal, aside from a few players dropped at the end of the season—namely Larry Azzouni, Ilyes Bouzayene, and Mohamed Mouhli.
However, the Brazilian duo of Yan Sasse and Rodrigo Rodrigues, in addition to Algerian internationals Mohamed Amine Tougai and Youssef Belaïli, as well as team captain Mohamed Amine Ben Hmida, are among the key players available to the Tunisian side to take on their star-studded opponents.
The Tunisian representatives begin the tournament on June 17 against CR Flamengo at Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia), before facing Los Angeles FC on June 20 at GEODIS Park (Nashville), then Chelsea FC on June 25, again at Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia).
