Chelsea secured a historic victory on Sunday night at MetLife Stadium, becoming the first team to win the newly expanded Club World Cup.
The London club claimed the title with a commanding 3-0 win over a 10-man Paris Saint-Germain in the tournament’s final.
Cole Palmer emerged as the standout performer, scoring twice within the first half-hour.
Joao Pedro added a stylish third before halftime to put the result beyond doubt.
Paris Saint-Germain’s struggles worsened late in the match when Joao Neves was shown a red card, compounding a night in which the French side, reigning Champions League winners, were thoroughly outplayed.
The revamped tournament featured 32 clubs from around the world, culminating in a final between two of Europe’s footballing giants. PSG reached the showdown after a 5-0 demolition of Inter Milan, while Chelsea arrived at the competition riding momentum from their UEFA Conference League triumph earlier in the year.
Palmer nearly opened the scoring in the 8th minute with a curling shot that struck the side netting, hinting at his eventual impact on the game. Despite a quieter goal-scoring spell in recent months, he displayed sharpness and confidence throughout the match.
PSG had a chance to strike first when Desire Doue, the Champions League final’s MVP, broke into the Chelsea penalty area. Opting to square the ball to Achraf Hakimi instead of shooting, Doue’s pass was intercepted by Marc Cucurella, who cut out the threat effectively.
Palmer capitalized soon after, putting Chelsea ahead in the 22nd minute with a composed finish into the bottom right corner after creating space inside the box. He then extended the lead just eight minutes later with a similar left-footed effort that curled into the far post.
Joao Pedro added a third before the break, flicking the ball over PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to complete a move orchestrated by Palmer, who had once again split the defense with precision.
Chelsea controlled the tempo in the second half, and PSG’s hopes of a revival were dashed when Joao Neves received a red card shortly before the final whistle.
The win marks a significant milestone for Chelsea, who now stand as the first champions of the modern 32-team Club World Cup—a landmark achievement sealed with a performance that underscored their growing stature on the global stage.
