Cole Palmer scored twice and fed João Pedro for a goal as Chelsea overwhelmed Paris Saint-Germain in the first half and beat the European champions 3-0 in the final of the first expanded Club World Cup
Chelsea have been crowned the first FIFA Club World Cup champions of the tournament’s new format after a stunning 3-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the final staged at the MetLife Stadium in New York. A brace from Cole Palmer inside the opening half-hour left PSG shellshocked, with Joao Pedro sealing the win and Chelsea’s place in history.
Both European giants had their share of stumbles in the group stage — each suffering defeats to Brazilian sides — but they bounced back to power through the knockout rounds and set up a mouthwatering finale. However, on the big night, it was Chelsea who rose to the occasion with a performance that overwhelmed their French opponents.
Chelsea, riding high after Joao Pedro’s semifinal heroics, started on the front foot. Palmer sent an early warning shot in the eighth minute, his low effort deflecting off Lucas Beraldo and flashing wide. PSG responded with a dangerous move of their own, but a sharp interception by Marc Cucurella denied Achraf Hakimi a clear scoring opportunity after a brilliant setup by Désiré Doué.
But Chelsea’s plan was clear, and they executed it perfectly. Led by the relentless Palmer, the London side pressed high and attacked with purpose. The breakthrough arrived after Malo Gusto’s clever lay-off set up Palmer, who coolly slotted the ball past Gianluigi Donnarumma to ignite the Chelsea fans packed inside the stadium.
COLE PALMER’S OPENER — FROM EVERY ANGLE
The touch. The finish. The bottom corner.Catch the @FIFACWC Final | July 13 | Free | https://t.co/i0K4eUtwwb | #FIFACWC #TakeItToTheWorld #CHEPSG pic.twitter.com/Yyy1PdoKcN
— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) July 13, 2025
Barely eight minutes later, Palmer struck again. This time, he dazzled with a twisting solo run, weaving through the PSG defense before finishing with composure. PSG, the reigning European champions, looked stunned — their recent dominance over Premier League teams in the Champions League suddenly seemed a distant memory.
The third goal came just before halftime. Palmer turned provider, slipping Joao Pedro through on goal. The Brazilian forward, already a fan favorite, calmly chipped the ball over Donnarumma, sending the Chelsea faithful into a frenzy. It was a ruthless display that left PSG on the ropes long before the final whistle.
PSG sought a response in the second half, but Chelsea’s Robert Sanchez was in no mood to concede. The Spanish goalkeeper produced two brilliant saves in quick succession, denying Ousmane Dembele and Vitinha with reflex stops that underlined Chelsea’s defensive steel on the night.
Chelsea’s hunger never dropped. Substitute Liam Delap tested Donnarumma with a fierce strike, while PSG’s frustration boiled over when João Neves received a straight red card in the 84th minute after a reckless foul on Cucurella — a symbolic end to a night where everything went wrong for the Parisians.
For Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca, this triumph capped a remarkable season. Having already guided the Blues to the UEFA Conference League title in May, Maresca added another major trophy to his cabinet. The victory also secured Chelsea a £90 million prize, a significant boost as they look to build on this success.
On the other hand, PSG were denied a historic quadruple. Luis Enrique’s men had hoped to match Barcelona’s 2015 feat of winning the Champions League, domestic league, domestic cup, and Club World Cup in a single season. Instead, they leave New York with bruised pride and plenty of questions.
Chelsea’s victory sends a clear message — under Maresca’s leadership, the Blues are back among Europe’s elite, ready to challenge for every major honor. The Club World Cup may have a new champion, but Chelsea’s relentless spirit is a familiar sight on the global stage.
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