Chelsea earned their place in the final after beating two Brazilian sides, while PSG knocked out some of Europe’s biggest clubs. Now, they’ll meet in New Jersey for a highly anticipated showdown.
It’s been a strong summer for Chelsea. After adding another European trophy to their cabinet and locking in a Champions League spot for next season, they’ve continued to build momentum in the United States.
Their latest win, a 2-0 semi-final victory over Fluminense, marked their fifth win in six matches. New signing João Pedro made a big impact, scoring in both halves against his former club to lead Chelsea to the final. Earlier in the tournament, the Blues also defeated Palmeiras in the quarterfinals and edged past Benfica in a weather-delayed, extra-time thriller.
Despite finishing second in Group D after a loss to Flamengo, Chelsea navigated the draw effectively and avoided some of the tournament’s heaviest hitters. The London club, who last won the Club World Cup in 2022, are now just one win away from ending the year with a cup double.
Under Enzo Maresca, Chelsea have bounced back from a mid-season dip and now find themselves on the verge of another international title. But standing in their way is the most formidable opponent they’ve faced yet.
Can PSG Go All The Way?
Paris Saint-Germain have been rewriting history all year, and winning this revamped Club World Cup would be the perfect capstone to a remarkable season.Since a surprise group-stage defeat to Botafogo, PSG have been flawless. They began the knockouts by cruising past Inter Miami, then secured a 2-0 win over Bayern Munich in the quarterfinals. In the semis, they delivered a statement performance with a 4-0 rout of Real Madrid.
PSG took advantage of early Madrid mistakes, quickly going 2-0 up before Fabian Ruiz struck again to put the result beyond doubt before halftime. Gonçalo Ramos added a fourth late on, matching the scoreline of their tournament opener against Atletico Madrid.
This kind of dominance has become routine for the French champions. They recently crushed Inter Milan 5-0 in the Champions League final and also claimed the Coupe de France with a three-goal victory.
Under the guidance of Luis Enrique, who won the Club World Cup with Barcelona in 2015, PSG have become a relentless, high-scoring machine. They are now chasing a historic quadruple, but one final test remains.
With both teams in top form and everything on the line, Sunday’s final promises to be a thrilling conclusion to the Club World Cup. Whether it’s Chelsea’s resurgence or PSG’s quest for perfection, football fans are in for a world-class spectacle.
INJURIES & SUSPENSION
Chelsea have received a timely boost ahead of Sunday’s Club World Cup final, with Moisés Caicedo recovering from an ankle issue and returning to full training. However, head coach Enzo Maresca may still be without several other key players.Midfielders Dario Essugo and Romeo Lavia are both dealing with muscular problems, while Benoît Badiashile remains a doubt. Noni Madueke is also expected to miss out as transfer talks with Arsenal continue to gather pace. New signings Jamie Bynoe-Gittens and Estevão are unavailable for selection due to tournament eligibility rules.
On the bright side, Maresca can now count on Levi Colwill and Liam Delap, both of whom missed the semi-final due to suspension. Delap’s return adds another option in attack, though João Pedro is widely expected to lead the line after scoring twice on his full debut against Fluminense.
As for Paris Saint-Germain, they may head into the final with a fully fit squad. The only absentees are defenders Willian Pacho and Lucas Hernandez, who are suspended after being sent off in the quarter-finals.
Lucas Beraldo is likely to continue in place of Pacho, partnering captain Marquinhos in central defence. Luis Enrique is expected to stick with the same starting lineup that dominated Real Madrid in the semi-finals.
Ousmane Dembélé, a Ballon d'Or contender, made his first start of the tournament in that match after previously coming off the bench due to injury. He’s now expected to lead PSG’s familiar and dangerous attacking trio at MetLife Stadium.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Chelsea possible starting lineup:Sanchez; Gusto, Chalobah, Colwill, Cucurella; Fernandez, Caicedo; Neto, Palmer, Nkunku; Pedro
Paris Saint-Germain possible starting lineup:
Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Beraldo, Mendes; Neves, Vitinha, Ruiz; Kvaratskhelia, Dembele, Doue
EXPERT PREDICTION
Chelsea 1-3 PSG
Paris Saint-Germain have been in red-hot form, thriving even in the sweltering American heat. Their sharp passing, relentless pressing, and overall cohesion could be too much for Chelsea to handle in the final.
PSG have already knocked out the Blues in European competition twice before, in 2015 and 2016. Now, they look poised to add to Chelsea’s woes and claim a fourth trophy in just three months.
