Jobe Bellingham made his debut for Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday, coming off the bench in a goalless draw against Brazilian side Fluminense in their opening match of the FIFA Club World Cup at MetLife Stadium.
The 19-year-old English midfielder, who recently completed a high-profile transfer from Sunderland, followed in the footsteps of his elder brother, Jude, who last played for the German club in May 2023. However, Bellingham was unable to inspire his new team to victory against the resilient South American side.
Fluminense, runners-up in the 2023 edition of this tournament, arguably created the better chances throughout the contest. Colombian forward Jhon Arias proved to be a constant threat, going close on three occasions, while teammates Agustin Canobbio and Nonato were denied by crucial saves from Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel.
The Brazilian club’s defence was marshalled by 40-year-old former Chelsea captain Thiago Silva, who produced an immaculate performance. At the other end, Fluminense’s veteran 44-year-old goalkeeper, Fabio, recorded a clean sheet in what was the 1,375th appearance of his remarkable career.
The match, which kicked off at noon local time, drew an official attendance of 34,736 at the 82,500-capacity MetLife Stadium, which is set to host the 2026 World Cup final. While Fluminense’s travelling supporters provided a vibrant atmosphere, the significant number of empty seats mirrored the attendance issues seen in other opening games of the newly expanded tournament.
Bellingham made his first appearance for Dortmund just 24 days after helping Sunderland secure promotion to the Premier League in the Championship play-off final. Fellow young English talents Jamie Gittens and Carney Chukwuemeka, on loan from Chelsea, also appeared as late substitutes for the Bundesliga side.
Both teams will be back in action on Saturday, June 21. Borussia Dortmund are set to face South African club Mamelodi Sundowns in Cincinnati, while Fluminense will play South Korean side Ulsan HD back in New Jersey.
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