Chelsea stunned Paris Saint-Germain with a commanding 3-0 victory in the FIFA Club World Cup final on Sunday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Cole Palmer performed outstandingly, leading the club to win the title of World Cup for the second time after 2021. Palmer struck twice within eight minutes during the first half, scoring two similar goals that set the tone for Chelsea's dominance.
Following his brace, the 23-year-old celebrated with his trademark “cold” gesture, delighting Chelsea fans on a scorching afternoon.
PSG had looked like the tournament favorites, aside from an earlier 1-0 group stage defeat to Botafogo, but they unravelled in the final. João Pedro, newly signed from Brighton and making just his second start, added Chelsea’s third goal in the 43rd minute—his third of the tournament.
Adding to the spectacle, the halftime show featured a surprise performance by Coldplay, joined by J Balvin, Doja Cat, Tems, and Emmanuel Kelly.
Although there were no goals in the second half, Chelsea maintained their control of the match. PSG's frustrations boiled over late, as midfielder João Neves received a red card for pulling Marc Cucurella’s hair, reducing the French side to 10 men.
Chelsea players wore "World Champions 25" uniforms and burst into cheers at the final whistle.
The Club World Cup victory wrapped up an impressive season for the London-based side, who also won the UEFA Conference League in May with a 4-1 triumph over Real Betis and secured a Champions League spot with a fourth-place Premier League finish.
Palmer, who joined Chelsea from Manchester City two years ago, ended the season with 18 goals. Speaking to FIFA, he praised manager Enzo Maresca’s tactical plan and vision.
“The manager had a great strategy. He knew where I’d find space, and I just had to make the most of it,” Palmer said. “He’s building something special.”
Maresca, in his debut season after moving from Leicester City, credited his squad’s intensity and execution. “We won the game in the first ten minutes,” he said. “Cole found space, and the entire team showed incredible effort.”
Despite a successful domestic season, PSG fell short of completing a quadruple, having previously claimed the Ligue 1 title and the Coupe de France. According to the Associated Press, this was their heaviest loss since a 4-1 Champions League defeat to Newcastle in October 2023.
Tensions flared after the match, with a heated exchange between João Pedro, PSG’s Gianluigi Donnarumma, and manager Luis Enrique. Maresca was later seen speaking with Donnarumma after the incident.
Amid the celebrations, Chelsea lifted the trophy with US President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino in attendance. Some fans in the stadium voiced disapproval with scattered boos.
Goalkeeper Robert Sánchez won the Golden Glove, while PSG’s 20-year-old Désiré Doué was named Best Young Player. Palmer received the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player.
As Chelsea celebrated their triumph, PSG manager Enrique downplayed the post-match altercation, attributing it to the high pressure of the final.
Chelsea will now regroup with under five weeks before the 2025–26 Premier League season kicks off, while PSG quickly shifts focus to the UEFA Super Cup clash against Tottenham Hotspur on August 13 in Udine, Italy.
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