These continental victories earned them entries into the FIFA Club World Cup in 2011, 2018, 2019, and now 2025—marking their fourth appearance on football’s global club stage (en.wikipedia.org).
2011 (Japan): Qualified as CAF Champions. Exited in the quarterfinals after facing Al‑Sadd and Monterrey, finishing 6th place (en.wikipedia.org).
2018 (UAE): Again direct entry as African champions. Lost to Al‑Ain, but claimed 5th place via a penalty shootout win over Guadalajara (inside.fifa.com).
2019 (Qatar): Slight dip—lost second round match to Al‑Hilal and ended up 5th, beating Al‑Sadd 6‑2 (en.wikipedia.org).
Espérance sealed their place in the expanded 32-team FIFA Club World Cup 2025 via CAF Champions League performance and continental ranking, joining Africa’s elite along with Al Ahly, Wydad, and Sundowns (e-s-tunis.com).
The tournament runs June 15–July 13, 2025 in the USA, featuring eight groups of four, with Espérance drawn into Group D (fourfourtwo.com).
| Date | Opponent | Venue (US) |
|---|---|---|
| June 16 | Flamengo (BRA) | Philadelphia |
| June 20 | Club León (MEX) | Nashville |
| June 24 | Chelsea (ENG) | Philadelphia |
June 17: Their campaign opened in Philadelphia against Flamengo, a clash dominated by the Brazilian side. Flamengo won decisively 2–0, controlling 80% possession and limiting Espérance to just two shots on target (reuters.com).
June 20: Upset of Group D — Espérance secured a hard-fought 1–0 victory over LAFC in Nashville, with Youcef Belaili netting the winning goal in the 70th minute. LAFC’s early aspirations slipped away, ending the match with disallowed goals and a missed penalty (as.com).
Following LAFC’s exit, Espérance advanced to face Chelsea (the English side missing striker Nicolas Jackson due to suspension following a red card in their loss to Flamengo) (reuters.com).
Representing Tunisia and Africa in this expanded global format is a major national and continental pride point (africasport.net).
The squad, coached by Laurențiu Reghecampf, is a blend of veteran strength and emerging talents—players like Youcef Belaili, Amanallah Memmiche, and Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane are central to their strategy (africasport.net).
Their journey has been marked by resilience, tactics, and a growing belief that they can compete beyond the African stage (africasport.net).
From middling finishes (6th in 2011) to stronger performances (two 5th‑place finishes), Espérance continues stepping up on the world stage. The 2025 edition offers a fresh chance—to surpass past results, break new ground, and harness the momentum of their impressive win over LAFC. Even if reaching the Round of 16 is ambitious, their belief, fan passion, and tactical discipline could yet make this a historic campaign.
In short: Espérance Sportive de Tunis brings a century-plus history and African domination to the global stage. With talented players, inspired leadership, and a recent upset win under their belt, they’ve planted a seed of hope—not just for Tunisian football but for Africa’s presence at the FIFA Club World Cup. Their upcoming clash with Chelsea could define whether that hope blossoms into a truly global footprint.
Previous participations: 2011 (6th), 2018 & 2019 (5th)
2025 Group D opponents: Flamengo, Club León, Chelsea, LAFC
Group stage results: Lost to Flamengo 0–2; beat LAFC 1–0
