Chelsea and PSG meet this Sunday at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup final - the one we've all been waiting for. Many will feel as though this is a worthy final, particularly in the case of PSG, who have continued to stake their claim as one of the best sides seen in recent years.
Chelsea’s journey to the final has been an interesting one, with the team showing strong adaptability and a growing sense of cohesion under Enzo Maresca. After finishing second in their group behind Flamengo, the Blues responded with a series of composed knockout performances. They dispatched Benfica 4-1 after extra time in the Round of 16, edged Palmeiras 2-1 in the quarter-finals, and produced a controlled 2-0 win over Fluminense in the semi-finals in what was arguably their best performance of the tournament.
The squad has coped well with adversity, rotating effectively despite injuries and suspensions. Players such as Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo have given a good account of themselves in midfield, while Cole Palmer and Pedro Neto have probably been the standout attackers. In goal, Robert Sanchez has delivered several assured displays, despite showing patchy form in the league this season.
New signing Joao Pedro also made a colossal impression in his first start as a Chelsea player in the semi-final, delivering two fantastically taken goals in a fine all-round performance. His presence adds a new dimension to the team, and he's almost certainly secured a starting place for Sunday's final.
PSG arrive in the final as the competition’s most impressive side. Luis Enrique’s team have swept aside their opponents with authority, claiming big wins over Atletico Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Real Madrid, the latter a 4-0 semi-final triumph that underlined their superiority compared to the rest of Europe - and the world. The French champions have yet to concede a goal in the knockout stage, scoring ten times in three matches.
The side’s attacking trident, led by Ousmane Dembele, who has enjoyed a career-best season with 35 goals in all competitions, alongside Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, has been central to their progress. The midfield, manned by Vintinha, Joao Neves and Fabian Ruiz, is arguably the best in the world on current form, while Marquinhos and Gianluigi Donnarumma have both been excellent at the back, despite showing frailty in previous seasons.
PSG’s ability to dictate tempo, press high, and exploit transitions makes them one of the most versatile and adaptable teams we've seen for many years. Their squad depth also allows for effective rotation, with players like Bradley Barcola and Warren Zaire-Emery offering outstanding quality off the bench. PSG are on the verge of breaking their all-time scoring record, which really underscores their attacking firepower.
Chelsea should give PSG a more competitive game than Real Madrid did by virtue of their more conservative nature, but the Parisians are quite clearly the overwhelming favourites for this tie. Chelsea have had a far easier run to the final than PSG so their level is much less clear, whereas PSG have already dispatched two of Europe's biggest teams.
Chelsea 1-3 PSG
