By Okon Ekpenyong, Photos by Chelsea FC/FIFA

Sunday, July 13, 2025, at the MetLife Stadium was a historic moment for football fans globally and the English Premier League as Chelsea dominated Paris Saint-Germain of France 3-0 to help the league capture its fifth FIFA Club World Cup title.

U.S. President Donald Trump was among the 81,118 attendees at the title game, marking the highest attendance for any match for this year’s tournament. Chelsea from the Premier League joined Bayern Munich of Germany and Corinthians of Brazil as a two-time winner of the FIFA Club World Cup, cementing their status as the best club in the world after a resounding 3-0 victory over Ligue 1’s Paris Saint-Germain at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

Also, Chelsea, which has now won its second title, joins Manchester United and Liverpool as the only Premier League teams to have won the FIFA Club World Cup either once or twice.

“We generated almost $2 billion. It’s already the most valuable cup competition in the world,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino said. A part of that prize went to Chelsea, which earned approximately $154 million, while PSG took home around $107 million.

Chelsea’s tactical masterclass, Cole Palmer’s brilliant performance on both ends, Chelsea’s midfield domination, and defensive solidity contributed to the club’s triumph on sunday. Meanwhile, PSG’s strategy and performance were among the reasons for their defeat.

This tournament previewed the 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. The final will take place at MetLife Stadium, which has a capacity 82,500 and recorded the highest tournament attendance. Notable matches included the quarterfinal between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund with 76,611 spectators, and the semifinal between Fluminense and Chelsea with 70,556 attendees. Additionally, Paris Saint-Germain vs. Real Madrid drew 77,542 fans.

Chelsea came into the match as the underdog, but were playing in their third FIFA Club World Cup. So, in the first ten minutes, they kept disrupting PSG’s offense and seizing control, silencing the PSG crowd, reminding everyone that sometimes experience matters. They confidently did not hold possession of the ball too long throughout the game. They wanted to score in every possession, and it shows. The team displayed a calm and collected demeanor, especially considering PSG’s formidable defense that had only conceded one goal in the entire tournament.

When Chelsea faced PSG on Sunday, their approach was reminiscent of how PSG had played against Atletico Madrid, Inter Miami FC, and Real Madrid C.F. in previous matches, where PSG had a firm grip on the game. Chelsea’s edge came from their mastery in controlling the midfield, effectively stifling PSG’s key players—Desire Doue, Ousmane Dembele, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia—preventing them from finding their rhythm. This strategy worked for Chelsea because PSG’s key players were dominant throughout the tournament and often looked unstoppable.

Chelsea focused heavily on keeping the ball airborne, often opting for long balls to bypass PSG’s pressing strategy during the first twenty minutes of the match. On the other hand, PSG completed more passes overall, executed more crosses, and successfully switched play more frequently. Despite PSG holding onto the ball for a significant 61% of the game compared to Chelsea’s 32%, Chelsea managed to capitalize on their chances effectively, hitting their target at crucial moments.

“Chelsea exposed PSG’s defensive vulnerabilities, causing PSG to struggle to cope with Chelsea’s high-pressing game plan and swift transition.” PSG’s frustration grew heavily as the game progressed, and they were shoving and pushing between the two squads.

The tournament’s best player award, the Adidas Golden Ball, went to Cole Palmer, who scored the first two goals against PSG and assisted in the club’s third goal. The Adidas Golden Ball is a prestigious award given to the tournament’s best player, and Palmer’s performance certainly warranted this recognition. Newly signed João Pedro scored the third goal in Sunday’s final game after scoring two against Brazil’s Fluminense club in the semifinals, which helped propel Chelsea to return to its third final in franchise history.

Chelsea Goalkeeper Robert Sanchez picked up the Golden Glove, an award given to the tournament’s best goalkeeper for his outstanding performance in keeping a clean sheet in the final game. Despite the loss, PSG’s Desire Doue picked up the Best Young Player Award, and the Adidas Silver award went to Vitinha for what FIFA describes as a player who showcased his dynamic running and ability to dictate play.”

Other clubs to win multiple times are Barcelona, which has 3, and Real Madrid, which had the chance to add its sixth, unfortunately lost in the semifinal match against this year’s runner-up, PSG. Despite the loss, this Ligue 1 franchise had a great year, winning its first Union of European Football Associations Champions League after falling short in 2000. The FIFA Club World Cup has a rich history, with past winners including some of the most prestigious and successful clubs in football.

On July 12, 1998, the French National Football team stole the show by defeating Brazil to win its first FIFA World Cup. Exactly 27 years later, Paris-Saint-Germain, the most recognized football club in France, playing in the Ligue 1 league, walked into the Met Life Stadium in New Jersey, hoping to bring home the prestigious FIFA Club World Cup Title back to France. The FIFA Club World Cup is a significant tournament that brings together the best club teams from each continent, making it a highly anticipated and competitive event.

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) entered the game having won 10 of their last 11 matches across all competitions, conceding only one goal and scoring 16 goals, which was the most by any team. On the other hand, Chelsea had secured victories in 13 of their past 15 games. They lost their first Club World Cup title in 2012 and knew the pain of losing in a big game. However, they made a comeback in 2021, winning 2-1 against Brazil’s Palmeiras, and this year they triumphed over PSG with a score of 3-0.

This year’s tournament made history with a remarkable total of 195 goals scored, 2,491,462 in attendance, and much more. MetLife Stadium recorded the highest score with thirty goals and an attendance of 81,118 at the finale, the highest attendance for a FIFA Club World Cup match. Additionally, Chelsea was the second youngest to start XI at the FIFA World Cup at 24.5 years.

Gonzalo Garcia of Real Madrid stood out as the tournament’s top goalscorer, netting four goals and providing one assist. The breakdown of goals by confederation reveals a diverse competition: 7 goals came from North America, 16 from Africa, 94 from Europe, nine from Asia, 59 from South America, and just one from Oceania.

The youngest player to net a goal was Rodrigo Mora from FC Porto, a football club in Portugal, who achieved this feat at just 18 years and 49 days old. In contrast, the oldest scorer was Sergio Ramos of CF Monterrey, a football club in Mexico, who found the net at 39 years and 79 days.

Statement from the players and coaches after the game:

“It’s a great feeling. The gaffer put a great game plan out. He knew where there would space and tried to free me up as much as possible. I just had to repay him and score some goal. He [Enzo Maresca] is building something special. I feel we’re going in the right direction,” Cole Palmer, Chelsea midfielder, said.

“I have no words for the player. For me, we won the game in the first ten minutes. We set the tempo, and we knew the way we wanted to play. Today, we found a position for Cole [Palmer] where there was more space to attack. The effort from all the players has been fantastic,” Enzo Maresca, Chelsea coach, said.

“It’s not just when you win that you do a good job. What we did this season was something we’d never done before. Thirteen years ago in Paris, I’d never competed for titles like this. Of course, we wanted to take this trophy home, but that doesn’t erase what we did this season,” Marquinhos, Paris Saint-Germain defender, said.

The 2025 Club World Cup Finals attracted 81,118 fans at MetLife Stadium, setting the stage for the 2026 World Cup at the same venue. Cole Palmer of Chelsea drew acclaim for his stellar performance, scoring goals and providing key assists. Many considered the tournament iconic, with a trophy symbolizing football’s pinnacle. Chelsea’s win further solidifies the Premier League’s dominance over other international football leagues.

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