The inaugural expanded FIFA Club World Cup is set for a blockbuster conclusion as European champions Paris Saint-Germain face Chelsea in Sunday’s final at the 82,500-capacity MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Among those expected in attendance is former U.S. President Donald Trump, underlining the high-profile nature of the clash.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has hailed the tournament as the dawn of a “golden era of club football,” and few final matchups could be more fitting than this showdown between two European powerhouses.
PSG, under the guidance of Luis Enrique, have enjoyed a dream season. After completing a domestic double, the French giants lifted their first-ever UEFA Champions League title with a commanding 5-0 win over Inter Milan. They have continued their dominance in the Club World Cup, with emphatic victories over Atletico Madrid, Inter Miami, Bayern Munich, and Real Madrid – the latter a 4-0 thrashing in the semi-finals.
“This season has been fantastic,” Enrique stated. “Now, we want to finish it in the best way possible.”
Chelsea, led by new coach Enzo Maresca, arrived in the U.S. riding momentum after a fourth-place Premier League finish and a UEFA Conference League triumph. While acknowledging PSG’s form, Maresca’s squad remains confident.
“They’re probably the best team in the world right now,” Maresca admitted. “But it’s a final – anything can happen.”
Defender Reece James echoed that sentiment, downplaying PSG’s favorite tag: “I’ve seen many finals where the underdogs win. The hype doesn’t matter.”
The final kicks off at 3:00 pm local time (1900 GMT), with concerns mounting over the intense summer heat. Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez warned that afternoon play in such conditions was “very dangerous.”
With both clubs having played over 60 matches this season, fatigue is also a concern. However, the stakes remain high, especially financially – each finalist is guaranteed over $100 million in prize money.
The MetLife Stadium, future host of the 2026 World Cup final, provides a fitting stage for what promises to be a thrilling conclusion to FIFA’s ambitious new tournament.
