Cole Palmer delivered a stellar performance as Chelsea shocked Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) with a dominant 3-0 victory in the final of the inaugural 32-team FIFA Club World Cup, held at the MetLife Stadium. Palmer scored twice and assisted once, leading Chelsea to their third trophy of the season and a historic win as the first champions of FIFA’s expanded tournament.
PSG, the reigning UEFA Champions League winners and heavy favourites after demolishing Real Madrid 4-0 in the semi-finals, were expected to cruise to victory. However, Chelsea reversed the script early. Palmer opened the scoring midway through the first half, added a second shortly after, and then turned provider for Joao Pedro’s goal in the 43rd minute, leaving PSG stunned by halftime.
The French champions struggled to recover, and their frustration boiled over late in the match when Joao Neves received a red card for violent conduct — pulling Chelsea’s Marc Cucurella by the hair off the ball, following a VAR review.
Chelsea’s triumph capped a remarkable season in which they also won the UEFA Conference League and secured a fourth-place finish in the Premier League. Their Club World Cup victory not only brought glory but also a massive $125 million in prize money. Despite the looming challenge of a shortened summer break, Chelsea’s players and staff will relish the milestone.
On the other hand, PSG, who secured a domestic double and finally clinched the Champions League under Luis Enrique, will feel disappointed not to have completed the sweep of major trophies. While their earnings from the tournament remain significant, the loss serves as a reality check before their UEFA Super Cup showdown with Tottenham Hotspur in a month.
The final drew high-profile attention, including an appearance by former U.S. President Donald Trump, adding to the spectacle of Chelsea’s landmark victory.
