Jobe Bellingham stepped onto the pitch for his first Borussia Dortmund appearance in a 0-0 tie against Brazil’s Fluminense during the Club World Cup clash at MetLife Stadium, New Jersey. The 19-year-old midfielder, recently signed from Sunderland, entered from the bench but was unable to help the German club break the deadlock.
His appearance mirrored that of his older brother Jude, whose final outing for Dortmund came in May 2023 after three years at the club. Bellingham joined Dortmund just weeks after playing a part in Sunderland’s promotion to the Premier League following a Championship play-off final win over Sheffield United at Wembley.
Dortmund struggled to create clear opportunities in a match where Fluminense, last year’s finalists, showed more attacking threat. Colombia international Jhon Arias went close on three occasions, while teammates Hercules and Matheus Martinelli also had decent attempts. Agustin Canobbio missed perhaps the best opportunity of the contest, shooting directly at keeper Gregor Kobel. The Dortmund goalkeeper also produced a sharp stop to keep out Nonato.
Young talents Jamie Gittens, linked with a move to Chelsea, and Carney Chukwuemeka – currently on loan at Dortmund from the Premier League side – both featured late in the game.
Fluminense dominate but can’t find breakthrough
Veteran goalkeeper Fabio, starting for Fluminense at the age of 44, secured a clean sheet on his 1,375th senior appearance. The South American outfit, who lost to Manchester City in the 2023 final, created the better chances and were backed by a loud traveling support.
At the other end, Fluminense captain Thiago Silva delivered a commanding performance at centre-back. The former Chelsea defender, who turns 41 in September, used his experience to keep Dortmund at bay throughout. Silva previously lifted the Champions League and Club World Cup with Chelsea in 2021 and showed little sign of slowing down.
Despite their efforts, the Brazilian side were left frustrated as they failed to convert their dominance into a win.
Another low turnout in the stands
With the game scheduled for midday local time, large sections of empty seats were visible inside MetLife Stadium. The ground, which is set to host the 2026 World Cup final, welcomed 34,736 fans – far fewer than its full capacity.
This followed a similar turnout at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, where Chelsea began their campaign in front of thousands of vacant seats earlier in the week. However, Fluminense fans brought a vibrant atmosphere, cheering every key moment for their side.
What comes next
Both teams return to action on Saturday. Dortmund will meet South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns in Cincinnati, while Fluminense face South Korea’s Ulsan HD back at MetLife Stadium later the same day.
