Paris Saint-Germain will face Chelsea in the final of FIFA’s newly expanded Club World Cup this Sunday at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The match brings together two European heavyweights and is expected to draw massive attention globally. Former U.S. President Donald Trump is among the high-profile guests expected to attend.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino described the tournament as the beginning of a “golden era” for club football. The final features a PSG side in peak form, hoping to close out a near-perfect season with another trophy. After winning both the French league and cup, PSG made history by lifting their first UEFA Champions League title, thrashing Inter Milan 5-0 in the final. They’ve carried that dominance into the Club World Cup, defeating Atletico Madrid, Inter Miami, Bayern Munich, and most recently Real Madrid with a 4-0 semi-final win.
Coach Luis Enrique said on Friday that the team is eager to finish their season on a high. Ousmane Dembele, a Ballon d’Or contender, leads their attacking threat.
Chelsea, meanwhile, arrive in the U.S. off the back of a strong Premier League campaign where they finished fourth and secured the UEFA Conference League title. Though seen as underdogs, Chelsea’s Reece James believes anything can happen in a final. “People are calling them favourites, but that doesn’t decide the result,” he said.
There are still injury concerns for Chelsea, especially over midfielder Moises Caicedo, who twisted his ankle during the semi-final against Fluminense.
The final takes place at the 82,500-capacity MetLife Stadium, also set to host the 2026 World Cup final. However, playing at 3:00 pm local time has raised safety concerns due to high temperatures. Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez called it “very dangerous” for player health. Fatigue is another issue, with PSG already playing 64 games this season and Chelsea close behind with 63.
Despite concerns, the financial incentives are hard to ignore. Both clubs are set to receive over $100 million in prize money, a major boost, especially for Chelsea, who were recently fined by UEFA over financial breaches.
Infantino, speaking at Trump Tower in New York, praised the 32-team format and hinted that the next edition in 2029 will be even bigger. “We’ve changed the landscape of club football,” he said.
