Chelsea delivered a stunning performance to defeat UEFA Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain 3–0 and clinch the inaugural 32-team FIFA Club World Cup at the MetLife Stadium on Sunday.
Cole Palmer starred for the Premier League side, scoring twice and assisting the third for Joao Pedro in a dominant first-half display that stunned the French champions. PSG’s misery was compounded when Joao Neves was sent off late in the game following a VAR review for violent conduct.
The resounding victory marked a remarkable end to Chelsea’s campaign, which also saw them win the UEFA Conference League and finish fourth in the Premier League. They now take home a record $125 million in prize money.
Palmer opened the scoring in the 22nd minute, finishing low into the corner after Malo Gusto’s effort rebounded into his path. He doubled Chelsea’s lead just eight minutes later with a composed finish, before setting up Joao Pedro for the third just before the break.
Despite PSG’s recent 5–0 Champions League final triumph over Inter Milan, Luis Enrique’s men were uncharacteristically sluggish and disjointed. Their only real chance came late in the first half when Joao Neves headed wide. Their hopes of a comeback evaporated in the 86th minute when Neves was dismissed for dragging Marc Cucurella by the hair off the ball.
The match, played in front of 81,118 fans, featured unprecedented pageantry for a FIFA tournament final — including a half-time show reminiscent of the Super Bowl. Former U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were in attendance as Chelsea lifted the trophy.
PSG, despite completing a treble of domestic titles and a Champions League crown, miss out on adding the Club World Cup to their haul. They now turn their attention to the UEFA Super Cup against Tottenham Hotspur next month.
Chelsea, meanwhile, write their name in the history books as the first champions of FIFA’s revamped Club World Cup — a triumph that could signal a new era for the West London club under manager Mauricio Pochettino.
