Chelsea dominates PSG to take the FIFA Club World Cup

For the past month, the FIFA Club World Cup served as a preview of what next summer’s World Cup is going to be like. From the competitive nature of the games and the atmosphere in the stands, this tournament served as a test for what is to come next summer. 

Cole Palmer and Fabian Ruiz: Photo Credit: FIFA

After an exciting month of fans from different parts of the world bringing a party-like atmosphere to the stands, results that shocked the world, and very competitive games, the tournament drew to a close on Sunday afternoon, as 81,118 fans packed MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ, to witness the final between Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). 

The English side steamrolled past the current UEFA Champions League champions, as Chelsea soundly defeated PSG by a final score of 3-0. This was Chelsea’s 2nd Club World Cup trophy, having previously won it in 2022, defeating Palmeiras 2-1 in Abu Dhabi.  

“We are very happy. We have been very happy since we arrived here, but at the same time, something, in some moments, happened that [were] not normal, as we said. But I always said that we were proud to be here and we were proud to play (in) this competition.” Said Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca, “ The first target for us was to go through the group stage. After that, was (SL) Benfica, and then OK, Benfica now, if we beat Benfica, we can go to the next one - Palmeiras, if we beat Palmeiras, we can go [against] Fluminense (FC). You know, it has been slowly, slowly, slowly that (in) the end we landed here 13 June, today is 13 July and [in] the end, I think, [it was] worth it.” 

Chelsea is lifting the Club World Cup trophy. Photo Credit: FIFA

Trump joins in on the celebration

As a lot of big games do, a lot of celebrities and dignitaries want to be present during these kinds of high-stakes games. Sunday’s final was no exception as many dignitaries and celebrities were in attendance to witness Chelsea’s triumph over Paris Saint-Germain. One of the many dignitaries present was FIFA president Gianni Infantino and the President of the United States, Donald Trump. 

Both Trump and Infantino walked onto the stage to present Chelsea captain Reese James with the trophy. Infantino did his customary walk off stage to let the newly crowned champions celebrate their victory. However, Trump decided to stick around on stage and celebrate with the Chelsea players on stage. After a few seconds of hesitation and confusion, James was encouraged by Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez to lift the trophy and begin the celebration in the middle of the field. 

“I knew he was going to be here, but I didn’t know he was going to be on the stand when we lifted the trophy, " said Chelsea striker and man of the match Cole Palmer. “So I was a bit confused.”

Post-game scuffle 

Towards the end of the game, the play between both teams got a lot more physical, somewhat bordering on the violent side, especially from PSG. As the game began to wind down, it seemed that the Parisian side was not interested at all in creating goal-scoring opportunities, instead fouling Chelsea players throughout the remainder of the game, even going down to 10 men in the 85th minute, as João Neves was shown a red card for pulling Marc Cucurella's hair.

Tensions came to a head after the final whistle as a fight between PSG’s goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and their head coach, Luis Enrique, and Chelsea’s João Pedro ensued. Enrique seemed to smack the Brazilian in the face during the mayhem, prompting Pedro to go down to the ground. Both teams were separated, and things seemed to cool down afterward. 

“My goal and my objective is always to separate footballers from greater problems,” said Enrique. “There was a lot of tension. I was trying to avoid any tension. I have no problem expressing my feelings at the end of a game. I want to make it possible that my footballers don’t go to those extremes. This could have been avoided.”

While asked in the post-game availability on what happened during the short scuffle in the midfield and what Enrique said afterward, Chelsea and Ecuador national team midfielder Moisés Caicedo said the following: “Honestly, I didn't see it, I can't tell you anything about that.” said Caicedo “What is true is that the Luis [Enrique] came up to me and shook my hand, he said congratulations, I can't tell you otherwise, he was a gentleman with us, he said many congratulations. That speaks very well of him.”

The Game 

Chelsea looked to do damage early, being the aggressor on attack, moving the ball around, and having the first big goal-scoring opportunity of the game, as Palmer shot the ball from the top of the box, aiming for the right corner of Donnarumma, but just missing the upper left corner of the net, foreshadowing what was going to come. 

“Going into the game straight away, we set the tone, we pressed the life out of them, we knew this was our last game of football for the season,” said Chelsea defender Levi Colwill “ I told everyone this before, and we went there and gave everything, and that’s what the scoreline reflects, and that’s why we won today.” 

PSG almost opened up the scoring early in the first half as they set up a series of passes in the midfield that found Nuno Mendes. Mendes would play a short pass to Ousmane Dembélé, who lobbed a pass to a wide-open Fabian Ruiz, who played a low cross into the box to Désiré Doué, who, instead of shooting towards goal, chose to play the ball back to Achraf Hakimi, but Cucurella was able to cut the pass, allowing his teammate to clear the ball from danger. 

Doué would have another chance to open up the scoring, but his shot would land in the hands of Sanchez, suppressing the ball between his hands. 

Cole Palmer scored twice in the final in Chelsea's victory against PSG. Photo Credit: FIFA

Chelsea opened up the scoring in the 22nd minute, after a long ball found Malo Gusto on the right-hand side. The ball would find Malo Gusto, who bodied Mendes off the ball, after the Portuguese defender headed the ball back. Gusto marched towards the goal. Lucas Beraldo blocked the French international's shot attempt, but Gusto would recover the rebound and pass the ball back to Palmer, who placed a low shot to the lower left corner, beating Donnarumma and giving Chelsea the first advantage of the game. 

Palmer would get his second goal of the game just 8 minutes later. James would cut off a  Dembélé pass that would fall to Colwill, who launched a long ball to an open Palmer, who was racing to win the ball on the right-hand side. Palmer escaped his marker with a bit of trickery as he cut into the top of the box and placed his shot in the same location for his first goal, as the ball skated past Donnarumma into the back of the net for the English international’s 2nd goal of the match. 

“To score the goals was a great feeling,” said Palmer. “I think the way the team showed fight out there and obviously the gaffer’s game plan was spot on.” 

Chelsea would solidify their victory two minutes from halftime. Palmer would receive the ball on his half and race down the field, deep into PSG’s half. He played a through ball to an open Pedro, who received the ball and chipped an incoming Donnarumma to make match point for Chelsea. 

João Pedro chipping Gianluigi Donnarumma. Photo Credit: FIFA

“It’s a huge reward to be able to come here and win a tournament like this in a short space of time,” said Pedro. “I’m very happy to become part of the history of the club in such a short time.

PSG thought they would have an opportunity to cut the deficit in the 51st minute when a low cross fell to Dembélé inside the box. Dembélé one-timed the ball towards goal, but Sanchez denied him in the last second to keep his clean sheet. 

“We’re aware we didn’t play at our level, especially in the first half, defensively, above all, “said PSG captain Marquinhos. “We gave them a lot of space, and they made some tactical changes, which made it difficult for us to assess their game in the first half. They analyzed and were able to explore some of our weaknesses well, and they were more efficient. We had a few chances and (we) were unable to score, but so did they, and they scored. So, we lacked defensive and attacking efficiency, and Chelsea played very well and were very fortunate with the chances they had.” 

Chelsea would have several opportunities to further the scoreline, but were unsuccessful in putting their goalscoring opportunities in the back of the net. 

As the celebration commenced, the victory meant a lot for players like Caicedo, who was winning the title in front of his compatriots, who came to support the midfielder, as the New York/New Jersey Metropolitan area boasts a large Ecuadorian community. 

“I felt really happy to see my country’s flag in the stadium,” said Caicedo. “It was an honour to see so many people supporting me. I’m truly grateful and very proud. I just want to thank God for always being there for me. Seeing all those Ecuadorian fans in the stands meant a lot.” 

Chelsea were not favored by many to win the match against PSG, as the French side was in impressive form ahead of the final. James Chelsea’s team captain had this to say post-game about the improbability of Chelsea beating PSG.

“I mean, maybe impossible to you, but not to us, for sure,” said James. I said in my other press conference that we would surprise a lot of people, and I think we [did] that today. Everyone is shocked, but we know how far we’ve come, how well, and how good our players are, and I’m happy for everyone. I’m happy for the staff, for the owners, for the directors, and for the players. “ 

Now the focus for both teams is the 2025-26 season. Chelsea kicks off their season on August 17th at home against Crystal Palace. As for PSG, they will face off against Tottenham Hotspur in the UEFA Super Cup final on August 13th and will start the defense of their Ligue 1 title four days later on the road against FC Nantes.