Chelsea produced a dominant first-half display to dismantle European champions Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 and claim the title in the first expanded FIFA Club World Cup final, held in front of a raucous crowd of 81,188 at MetLife Stadium.
Cole Palmer, the 23-year-old forward, was the star of the night, scoring two stunning goals and assisting another as Chelsea overpowered PSG, who had been considered heavy favourites. Palmer struck twice with almost identical left-footed efforts in the 22nd and 30th minutes, then set up João Pedro in the 43rd minute to seal a sensational opening half.
Palmer, who joined Chelsea from Manchester City two years ago, finishes the season with 18 goals, and his performance on Sunday will go down as one of his finest in a Chelsea shirt.
Chelsea’s Statement Win
Despite finishing fourth in the Premier League and winning the UEFA Conference League, Chelsea rose to the occasion on the world stage. This marks their second Club World Cup title, after their 2021 triumph. The team earned an estimated $128–154 million in prize money, with the exact figure dependent on participation bonuses.
PSG’s Quadruple Dream Shattered
PSG entered the match having already won the Ligue 1 title, Coupe de France, and their first Champions League, hoping to complete an unprecedented quadruple. They had outscored opponents 16–1 in the tournament and hadn’t lost by a margin of three goals since October 2023.
Their night worsened in the 84th minute when João Neves was sent off for pulling Marc Cucurella by the hair. The closing stages were heated, with PSG coach Luis Enrique and goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma involved in a scuffle with Chelsea’s João Pedro.
Key Moments
- 22′ – A defensive error from PSG’s Nuno Mendes gifted Chelsea possession. After Malo Gusto’s shot was blocked, Palmer smashed in the opener, ending PSG’s 436-minute clean sheet streak.
- 30′ – Palmer latched onto Levi Colwill’s long ball, cut inside, and doubled the lead.
- 43′ – Palmer split PSG’s backline with a through ball, and João Pedro chipped Donnarumma for his third goal in two starts.
Presidential Presence & Trophy Lift
The final also drew U.S. President Donald Trump, who was booed by parts of the crowd as he walked on the pitch for the post-match awards. He later posed for photos with the Chelsea players and handed the trophy to captain Reece James alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
Quotes of the Night
- Cole Palmer: “It’s a great feeling. Even better because obviously everyone doubted us before the game… The gaffer put a great gameplan out.”
- Luis Enrique (via translator): “They had a lot of energy… I believe they were actually better than we were.”
What’s Next
With just under five weeks until the 2025–26 Premier League season, Chelsea now heads into the new campaign brimming with confidence — and with serious ambitions to challenge Liverpool, Manchester City, and Arsenal for domestic glory.
