Chelsea claimed a dominant 3-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the FIFA Club World Cup final on Sunday in East Rutherford, New Jersey, securing their second title in the tournament’s history and their first since 2021.
The standout performer was Cole Palmer, who scored a quick first-half brace, with both goals coming just eight minutes apart. The 23-year-old celebrated in his signature “cold” style amid the sweltering New Jersey heat, drawing cheers from the Chelsea faithful at MetLife Stadium.
Despite entering the final as favorites, PSG struggled throughout the match. The French giants had previously lost only once in the tournament—a narrow 1-0 defeat to Botafogo in the group stage—but were thoroughly outplayed in the final.
Chelsea’s João Pedro added a third goal in the 43rd minute—his third of the tournament and a key moment in only his second start for the club since his move from Brighton & Hove Albion.
Adding to the spectacle, the halftime show featured a surprise performance by British rock band Coldplay, joined by J Balvin, Doja Cat, Tems, and Emmanuel Kelly, thrilling fans in attendance.
The second half saw no additional goals but maintained Chelsea’s dominance. PSG’s frustrations boiled over late in the match when João Neves received a red card for pulling Marc Cucurella’s hair, reducing the French side to 10 men.
At the final whistle, Chelsea players took to the field wearing special kits emblazoned with “World Champions” and the number 25, celebrating their second trophy of the season. The Blues also secured a UEFA Champions League spot after finishing fourth in the Premier League and winning the UEFA Conference League final against Real Betis in May.
Palmer, who finished the season with 18 goals following his transfer from Manchester City two years ago, called the win a “great feeling” and praised manager Enzo Maresca.
“The gaffer set up a great plan and put me in a position to succeed,” Palmer told FIFA. “He’s building something special here.”
Maresca, who joined Chelsea this season from Leicester City, credited his players: “The first ten minutes won us the match. We found the right space for Cole to attack and the team executed it perfectly.”
The loss marked a disappointing end to an otherwise successful season for PSG, who had hoped to complete a quadruple after winning Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France. According to the Associated Press, this was PSG’s worst defeat since a 4-1 Champions League loss to Newcastle in October 2023.
Tensions flared after the match as João Pedro and PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma were involved in a confrontation, with manager Luis Enrique also caught in the exchange. Maresca was later seen speaking with Donnarumma as the players left the pitch.
The trophy presentation, led by FIFA president Gianni Infantino and U.S. President Donald Trump, was met with mixed reactions from the crowd. Palmer was awarded the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player, goalkeeper Robert Sánchez received the Golden Glove, and PSG’s 20-year-old forward Désiré Doué was named Best Young Player.
Luis Enrique downplayed the post-match altercation, citing the high-pressure atmosphere. “It was just the tension from the match. There’s nothing more to say,” he told reporters.
Chelsea now turn their attention to the upcoming Premier League season, set to begin in under five weeks, while PSG will prepare for the UEFA Super Cup clash against Tottenham Hotspur on August 13 in Udine, Italy.
