On the way to a fourth World Cup of Clubs, the Sports Hope of Tunis aims to exceed the symbolic bar of the quarters and to write a new page in the history of Tunisian football.
This Thursday, June 12, 2025, the delegation of Sports Hope of Tunis walked American soil, landing at Detroit airport. With its 55 members, including 23 officially selected players, the Blood et Or club is preparing to start a new chapter in its history, this time under the projectors of the Extended Club World Cup.
The competition starts for hope on June 17 at 2:00 am (Tunisian time) against a giant of South American football, the CR Flamengo. Then, the Esperantists will face the Los Angeles FC (June 20 at 11:00 p.m.), qualified after Leon’s exclusion, then finish the first round against Chelsea FC (June 25 at 2:00 am). Three formidable opponents, three emblematic stages, and only one ambition: to do better than their Tunisian predecessors.
Because the comparison is inevitable: the Sahel sports star remains, to date, the only Tunisian club to have reached the semi-finals of this competition. It was in 2007 in Japan. This heroic journey – with a victory against Pachuca and a valiant resistance against Boca Juniors – ended in an honorable 4ᵉ place.
Since then, Espérance has multiplied the appearances: three participations (2011, 2018, 2019), three early eliminations, and two small consolations with victories in classification matches. Admittedly, the East remains the most constant Tunisian club on a African scale, but on the world scene, it still runs after a real glance.
This 2025 edition, disputed in the United States in a new format at 32 clubs, could well be that of maturity. The team approaches this World Cup with a technical base and a cohesion that arouses hope.
But to mark history, it will be necessary to beat at least one great in Europe or Latin America, to qualify in eighths then aim higher. The star, with a single framed shot that has become legend against Pachuca, has shown that the feat is not reserved for favorites.
So, can hope do better than the star? The answer will depend as much on the tactical rigor on the ground as on the mental capacity to go beyond the complex of past failure. One thing is certain: all of Tunisia of football awaits a performance that will honor its history – and, why not, a happier outcome than that of 2007.
Complete group D calendar
- Monday June 16-Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta) at 8:00 p.m.: Chelsea-Los Angeles FC
- Tuesday June 17 – Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia) at 02:00: Hope St – Flamengo
- Friday June 20 – Lincoln Financial Field at 7:00 p.m.: Flamengo – Chelsea
- Friday June 20 – Geodis Park (Nashville) at 11:00 p.m.: Hope St – Los Angeles FC
- Wednesday June 25 – Lincoln Financial Field at 02:00 am: Hope St – Chelsea
- Wednesday June 25 – Camping World Stadium (Orlando) at 2:00 am: Flamengo – Los Angeles FC
Tunisian clubs in the club World Cup
Sports star of the Sahel
- 2007 edition – Japan
- Quarter -final: 1-0 victory against Pachuca (Mexico)
- Semi-final: 0-1 defeat against Boca Juniors (Argentina)
- Match for 3ᵉ place: defeat against Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan)
- Final classification: 4ᵉ place
- ESS remains the only Tunisian club to have played in the semi-finals
Sports Hope of Tunis
- 2011 edition – Japan
- Quarter -final: 1-2 defeat against Al – Sadd (Qatar)
- Match for 5ᵉ place: 2-3 defeat against Monterrey (Mexico)
- Final classification: 6ᵉ out of 7
- 2018 edition – United Arab Emirates
- Quarter -final: 0-3 defeat against Al – Aene
- Match for 5ᵉ place: Victory 6-5 on penalties against Guadalajara (1-1 AP)
- Final classification: 5ᵉ place
- 2019 edition – Qatar
- Quarter -final: 0-1 defeat against Al – Hilal (Saudi Arabia)
- Match for 5ᵉ place: 6-2 victory against Al – Sadd.
- Final classification: 5ᵉ place
