Chelsea face a daunting task as they prepare to clash with a red-hot Paris Saint-Germain side in the final of the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup under its expanded format. The blockbuster showdown is set for Sunday at the 82,500-capacity MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where PSG will attempt to cap a remarkable 2024/25 season with yet another trophy.
Fresh from a dominant 5-0 UEFA Champions League final victory over Inter Milan, PSG have steamrolled their way through the Club World Cup. Luis Enrique’s men have netted four goals in each of their matches against Atletico Madrid, Inter Miami, and Bayern Munich. In the semi-finals, they produced a masterclass, thrashing Real Madrid 4-0, a scoreline that arguably flattered the Spanish giants.
Now on the verge of a historic clean sweep including Ligue 1, the French Cup, and the Champions League PSG are heavy favourites to add the world title to their glittering collection. But midfielder Desire Doue insists the French side remain grounded. “We are not over-confident at all,” he said. “It’s what we do on the pitch that counts.”
Chelsea, however, are not here by chance. The Blues, winners of the UEFA Conference League and a fourth-place finisher in the Premier League, have fought hard to reach the final. Despite a group-stage loss to Flamengo, they rallied to defeat Benfica, Palmeiras, and Fluminense three strong sides from Brazil.
Defender Levi Colwill is embracing the underdog status. “If everyone thinks we are going to lose, then we have nothing to lose,” he said. “We just have to go out and play our football.”
Reece James, Chelsea’s captain, echoed that sentiment: “It’s a one-off final. We’ve seen favourites lose before. We’re focused on our preparation and going out to win.”
Aside from the prestige, both teams stand to gain financially, with each guaranteed over $100 million in prize money. For Chelsea, still grappling with a recent UEFA fine for financial rule breaches, that windfall could not be more timely.
Kickoff is set for 3:00 p.m. local time (1900 GMT), in sweltering summer conditions a final hurdle in what has already been a historic journey.