Sports (Commonwealth Union) _ Chelsea secured their second FIFA Club World Cup title with a commanding 3-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. It was a night filled with brilliance and unexpected spectacle, with the star of the match being Cole Palmer, whose support during the first half helped silence the French champions.
22-year-old Palmer struck twice with precision midway through the first half of the game, marking each victory with his signature “cold celebration,” thrilling all the Chelsea fans who had turned up to support the match.
The soccer star’s opening goals took advantage of PSG’s shaky back line during the 17th and 25th minutes, the double blow that was executed by Chelsea seemingly adding pressure on the Parisians.
João Pedro, who was recently signed from Brighton and Hove Albion, scored the third goal during the 43rd minute, signalling a fantastic end to Chelsea’s first-half attack. The goal marked Pedro’s third goal of the tournament and his second start with the blue team since his transfer.
The game also featured an impressive halftime performance by Coldplay, Doja Cat, J Balvin, Tems, and Emanuel Kelly before moving onto the second half.
Despite the second half bringing no opportunity for further goals, Chelsea maintained control over the game, capitalizing on every defensive lapse and holding their opponent to limited chances. The PSG faced further frustration as João Neves was handed a red card due to an altercation that involved him pulling the hair of a Chelsea defender, Marc Cucurella. During the final stretch, the incident reduced the French team’s number to 10.
As the whistle marked the end of the match, the Chelsea team celebrated the win, swapping their team t-shirts for ones that read “World Champions ‘25”. The team was joined on the podium by US President Donald Trump, along with FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
Cole Palmer celebrated his 18-goal season with the Golden Ball, and goalkeeper Robert Sánchez received the Golden Glove. Despite the loss, PSG also had its moment of pride as their forward Désiré Doué was named the Best Young Player of the tournament.
Following the win, Palmer praised the head coach, Enzo Maresca’s tactical insight, stating that “The gaffer put a great game plan out.”
Similarly, Meresca, who was recently transferred from Leicester City, also praised his players’ energy, emphasizing that for him, they had won the game in the first ten minutes by setting the rhythm and the space for Palmer to attack.
Having already won the Ligue 1, Coupe de France, and the UEFA Champions League, Sunday’s match marked PSG’s most disappointing defeat since the team’s October 2023 4-1 UCL loss to Newcastle.
With Chelsea heading into the preseason with renewed momentum, PSG is set up for another major game against Tottenham Hotspur at the UEFA Super Cup in Italy on August 13.
