The first-ever expanded FIFA Club World Cup reaches its climax on Sunday as European champions Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) take on Chelsea in the final at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, USA.
The final, which will be attended by former US President Donald Trump, is a highly anticipated showdown that FIFA president Gianni Infantino has described as a symbol of the "golden era of club football." The match is scheduled for 3:00 pm local time (1900 GMT) at the 82,500-capacity stadium, which will also host the 2026 World Cup final.
PSG, under the guidance of coach Luis Enrique, are looking to crown a remarkable season with yet another trophy. The French giants have already secured the domestic league and cup double, and made history by winning their first UEFA Champions League title after a commanding 5-0 victory over Inter Milan.
Carrying that dominant form into the Club World Cup, PSG have been ruthless, scoring four goals each against Atletico Madrid and Inter Miami, followed by a quarter-final win over Bayern Munich. They then crushed Real Madrid 4-0 in the semi-final, cementing their status as favourites.
“It has been a fantastic season and for us it is very important that we end it in the best possible manner,” Luis Enrique told reporters on Friday. PSG will also be banking on the brilliance of Ballon d’Or contender Ousmane Dembele to lead them to victory.
Chelsea, however, are determined to pull off an upset. Despite PSG’s dominance, Chelsea arrived in the US fresh from finishing fourth in the Premier League and claiming the UEFA Conference League title. Captain Reece James dismissed the underdog tag, stating, “Everyone has them down as strong favourites but I have been in many finals where we were favourites and didn’t win. That doesn’t mean too much to me.”
The English side were monitoring the fitness of key midfielder Moises Caicedo, who suffered an ankle injury in their semi-final victory over Fluminense.
As excitement builds, there are also concerns about the players' welfare, particularly regarding the high temperatures expected during the afternoon kick-off. Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez warned that the heat makes playing “very dangerous.” The final marks PSG’s 65th game since August 2024 and Chelsea’s 64th.
Financial incentives remain significant, with both finalists guaranteed over $100 million in prize money — a welcome boost for Chelsea following a recent UEFA fine for breaching financial rules.
Infantino, speaking from Trump Tower in New York, expressed pride in the new 32-team format of the competition, hailing it as a transformative event for global club football. “We created something new, something which is here to stay, something which is changing the landscape of club football,” he said. The next edition of the Club World Cup is scheduled for 2029.
