Club World Cup final preview: What to expect from PSG and Chelsea
The game will be played Sunday at New York's MetLife Stadium
Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea will face off in the Club World Cup final on Sunday, a highly anticipated clash at MetLife Stadium that marks the culmination of FIFA’s revamped 32‑team tournament.
The final featuring the two European heavyweights, which will be played 10 miles from midtown Manhattan in the New Jersey suburbs, will pit two of the planet’s wealthiest clubs who only found international success over the last two decades.
PSG hadn’t won a Ligue 1 title since 1995 when Qatar Sports Investments took over in 2011. They have won 11 of 13 French domestic titles since 2013, but until this past May had failed to become a European champion. A 4-0 rout of Real Madrid in the Club World Cup semifinals, following a 5-0 demolition of Inter Milan in the Champions League final reinforced that PSG is the dominant club team of this decade.
“We have always said that the collective work by the players is what’s helping us,” said PSG midfielder Fabian Ruiz, who scored twice against Real Madrid. “We are a great group, a young group that is working well.”
PSG has outscored opponents 16-1 in six matches during the month-long Club World Cup. It hasn’t allowed a goal since a 1-0 loss to Botafogo in its second group-stage match. In the knockout phase, PSG stormed through their half of the bracket with ruthless precision. A 4‑0 demolition of Inter Miami announced their intent in the round of 16, followed by a 2-0 shock victory over Bayern Munich despite playing with nine men.
PSG enter the match as favorites. The French side have been in magnificent form over the past six months. With help from midfielders such as Ruiz and Vitinha, PSG has employed a high-press system. Fullbacks like Nuno Mendes and Achraf Hakimi have helped create width and pace for Ballon d’Or frontrunner Ousmane Dembele to score goals and provide assists.
Under coach Luis Enrique, PSG have become a top team, winning Ligue 1, Coupe de France and the aforementioned Champions League all in a single season. A victory against Chelsea would not just allow PSG to become the inaugural champion of the new-look tournament, but also capture the quadruple.
Chelsea, meanwhile, were a mid-table English club until they were purchased in 2003 by Russian oligarch and billionaire Roman Abramovich. What followed were a flurry of trophies, including two Champions league trophies in 2012 and 2021. Abramovich was forced to sell the team in 2022 due to sanctions imposed by the British government following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The sanctions were a direct result of Abramovich’s alleged close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin. The sale to a consortium, led by the American Todd Boehly, was finalized that year.
Chelsea had an easier route to the final. A 2‑1 victory against Palmeiras in the quarterfinals was followed up by a 2‑0 semifinal triumph over Fluminense. Their clean, disciplined performance in that game was powered by striker Joao Pedro’s stunning debut brace, his first goals ever for the club.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has helped the Blues to a top four Premier League finish and a Conference League title this season.
Against PSG, he will rely on Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo, who is set to return following an ankle injury against Fluminense. The midfield duo have been key in helping to create space up front for Cole Palmer.
“PSG are probably the best team in the world,” Maresca said. “Sunday’s game will be very challenging, but hopefully we can win the match.”