Chelsea was crowned champion of the FIFA Club World Cup by defeating Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 in the final held at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The London team sealed the match in the first half thanks to the great performance of Cole Palmer, who scored two goals and provided an assist.
The first edition of the World Cup with 32 teams seemed to have PSG’s name already written on its trophy, but the blues closed a 2024-2025 season gradually improving, where they achieved fourth place in the Premier League to qualify for the Champions League and the conquest of the UEFA Conference League after a final against Betis.
How was Chelsea’s victory at the MetLife Stadium?
Chelsea caused a surprise against Luis Enrique Martinez’s team, a well-oiled machine, Champions League winner for the first time in its history with a 5-0 victory in the final against Inter Milan.
The French, who eliminated Real Madrid without breaking a sweat in the semifinals, suffered a sudden awakening from their idyllic 2025, with no reaction in the second half and frustrated like João Neves, who was sent off in the 84th minute for pulling Marc Cururella’s hair, and the Spanish coach himself in the scandalous fight that ended the match.
PSG was aiming for its fourth title of the season, after winning the French league, the French Cup, and the Champions League.
But Chelsea bravely stepped up and had a spectacular first half that sealed the final with Moisés Caicedo in the lineup, recovered from his ankle twist, Cole Palmer in stellar form, and goalkeeper Robert Sánchez covering their backs.
Palmer, with his characteristic shot into the net, scored the 1-0 after 20 minutes, with an assist from a Malo Gusto who almost wasted Mendes’ mistake. After the hydration break, Luis Enrique’s instructions did not have time to be put into practice, because once again the English international appeared in the same spot to skillfully define the 2-0.
Before the break, another run out by Palmer resulted in the 3-0 goal, with Joao Pedro chipping the ball over Donnarumma.
The long break like in the Super Bowl, with a long and dull show, was not enough for PSG to change their team’s face.
The Spanish goalkeeper Robert Sánchez was decisive in maintaining a good cushion for Chelsea, who made an effort not to retreat and continued to threaten with attacks on the rival goal. Caicedo provided that outlet and Joao Pedro, playing perfectly with his back to goal, continued to cause problems for an overwhelmed Lucas Beraldo.
Chelsea won the first World Cup and will be world champion for the next four years to the dismay of PSG, who did not know how to lose, as demonstrated by Neves with that red card and Luis Enrique with his aggression.