EAST RUTHERFORD, July 14: Cole Palmer delivered a stellar performance, scoring twice and assisting a third as Chelsea overpowered European champions Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 in the final of the first expanded FIFA Club World Cup on Sunday.
Palmer, the 23-year-old forward who joined Chelsea from Manchester City two years ago, netted two nearly identical left-footed goals from just inside the penalty area in the 22nd and 30th minutes. He later provided a precise through ball that enabled João Pedro to chip past PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma in the 43rd minute, marking Pedro’s third goal in just two starts for the Blues.
A heavy favorite coming into the match, PSG had outscored their opponents 16-1 during the tournament and were seeking to complete a historic quadruple after winning Ligue 1, the Coupe de France, and their first UEFA Champions League title. However, Chelsea’s high energy, bolstered by an extra day of rest following their semifinal, proved decisive.
Palmer’s first goal came after Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sánchez launched a long kick downfield. PSG’s Nuno Mendes mis-hit a header back toward his own goal, allowing Malo Gusto to shoot. His attempt was blocked by Lucas Beraldo and rebounded directly to Palmer, who fired it in — ending PSG’s impressive streak of 436 minutes without conceding a goal.
Palmer’s second came as he ran onto a long ball from Levi Colwill, cut inside, and buried the shot to double Chelsea’s advantage. He capped his first-half dominance with a clever assist to João Pedro, sealing a 3-0 lead before halftime.
PSG’s night worsened in the 84th minute when João Neves was shown a red card for pulling Marc Cucurella’s hair. Tensions flared in the final moments, with six yellow cards issued and a scuffle erupting when PSG coach Luis Enrique and Donnarumma shoved João Pedro near the center circle.
A tournament-record crowd of 81,188 fans filled MetLife Stadium for the final, including U.S. President Donald Trump, who was met with boos as he entered the field for the post-match awards ceremony. Trump posed for photos with Chelsea players after presenting the trophy alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino to Chelsea captain Reece James.
Chelsea, who finished fourth in the Premier League and won the UEFA Conference League, now claim their second world title — their first being the 2021 edition of the Club World Cup when it featured seven teams. With this victory, the Blues earned between $128,435,000 and $153,815,000 in prize money, with the exact figure dependent on FIFA’s undisclosed participation fee.
The defeat marks PSG’s worst loss since a 4-1 Champions League defeat to Newcastle in October 2023. Despite this setback, Chelsea’s commanding performance sets a bold tone for the upcoming 2025-26 season, which begins in less than five weeks. With newfound confidence, the Blues now believe they can contend for the Premier League title against the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City, and Arsenal.
