The FIFA Club World Cup saw significant developments on Tuesday as two groups concluded their final matches, determining the remaining teams advancing to the knockout stage. Benfica and Chelsea successfully secured their places, joining Bayern Munich and Flamengo who had already clinched advancement prior to the day's games. The matches were marked by intense competition, crucial saves, and even an unexpected weather delay, showcasing the global nature of the tournament.

In a pivotal Group C clash, Benfica emerged victorious over Bayern Munich with a narrow 1-0 win in Charlotte, a result that propelled the Portuguese side to the top of their group. The decisive goal came in the 13th minute when Andreas Schjelderup skillfully slotted home a cross from Fredrik Aursnes. Despite Bayern Munich dominating possession with 73% and firing 13 shots, their efforts were repeatedly thwarted by Benfica's Ukrainian goalkeeper, Anatoliy Trubin, who made a series of crucial saves against attempts from Leroy Sane, Thomas Muller, and Joshua Kimmich. Bayern's head coach, Vincent Kompany, had opted for a heavily rotated lineup, resting key players like Harry Kane, Michael Olise, Kingsley Coman, and Joshua Kimmich at kick-off, with 19-year-old Tom Bischof making his debut. Although Kane, Olise, and Kimmich were introduced after the break, significantly improving Bayern's offensive pressure, they couldn't find an equalizer, with a Kimmich goal notably disallowed due to an offside call on Kane. This historic win marked Benfica's first ever victory in 14 competitive meetings against the Bavarian giants. As Group C winners with 7 points, Benfica will now host either Chelsea or Esperance de Tunis in Charlotte on Saturday. Bayern Munich, finishing second with 6 points, will travel to Miami to face Group D winner Flamengo on Sunday.

The other Group C encounter saw a surprising 1-1 draw between minnows Auckland City and Argentine giants Boca Juniors in Nashville. Boca Juniors initially took the lead in the 26th minute through an unfortunate own goal by Auckland's goalkeeper Nathan Garrow. However, Christian Gray equalized for Auckland City with a header in the second half, securing a memorable point for the New Zealand club, especially notable after their prior heavy defeats to Bayern and Benfica. Despite Boca Juniors unleashing 41 shots, with 10 on target, they failed to break the deadlock against a resilient Auckland side. The match itself experienced a nearly hour-long suspension due to a weather warning related to potential lightning strikes. Both Auckland City, with 1 point, and Boca Juniors, with 2 points, were eliminated from the competition, though Auckland's coach Paul Posa expressed immense pride in his team's performance, stating it restored