Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea are set to clash in a blockbuster final at the expanded FIFA Club World Cup on Sunday, bringing the curtain down on the tournament’s debut edition in grand style at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
The match, expected to draw global attention, will also have former U.S. President Donald Trump in attendance, adding to the spectacle. Both clubs are guaranteed to take home over $100 million in prize money, with the exact amount dependent on the final outcome an especially significant sum for Chelsea, who were recently sanctioned by UEFA for breaching financial regulations.
Sunday’s final features the reigning UEFA Champions League winners PSG currently in scintillating form and a resurgent Chelsea side that has defied expectations to reach the decider. The game will kick off at 3:00 p.m. local time (1900 GMT) under the shadow of the Manhattan skyline, at the 82,500-capacity stadium which will also host the 2026 World Cup final.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino, speaking on Saturday from Trump Tower in New York, hailed the success of the revamped 32-team format.
“We created something new, something which is here to stay, something which is changing the landscape of club football,” Infantino said.
“It is already the most successful club competition in the world.”
He described the tournament as marking the beginning of “the golden era of club football”.
PSG Aim for Historic Quintuple
PSG have enjoyed a near-flawless campaign, winning the French league and domestic cup before lifting their first UEFA Champions League title with a record-breaking 5–0 win over Inter Milan in May. Under the leadership of manager Luis Enrique, the Parisians have stormed through the Club World Cup, dispatching Atletico Madrid, Inter Miami, and Bayern Munich, before dismantling Real Madrid 4–0 in the semi-finals.
“It has been a fantastic season and for us it is very important that we end it in the best possible manner,” Luis Enrique told reporters ahead of the final.
Led by Ballon d’Or contender Ousmane Dembélé, PSG are strong favourites going into Sunday’s fixture.
Chelsea: Underdogs with Confidence
Chelsea, fresh off a fourth-place finish in the Premier League and a UEFA Conference League title, arrived in the United States with momentum and determination. Despite being considered outsiders, the squad remains unfazed by PSG’s dominance.
“They are one of the hottest teams in the world at the moment, but this is the final, a one-off game,” said Chelsea captain Reece James.
“Everyone has them down as strong favourites, but I have been in many finals before where we have been favourites and we have not come out on top. That doesn’t mean too much to me, and I don’t really care that everyone is bigging up the opposition.”
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca was full of praise for the French giants.
“PSG are probably, at this moment, the best team in the world,” Maresca said.
There is cautious optimism in the Chelsea camp regarding the fitness of midfielder Moisés Caicedo, who suffered an ankle injury during their semi-final win over Fluminense on Tuesday.
Concerns Over Player Welfare
The final also highlights concerns about the congested football calendar and extreme weather conditions. With PSG playing their 65th game and Chelsea their 64th since the season began last August, questions around player fatigue and long-term health risks persist.
Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernández warned of the dangers of scheduling high-stakes matches in sweltering mid-afternoon conditions.
“Playing in the middle of the afternoon is very dangerous,” he said on Friday.
Still, for the clubs involved, the financial windfall has been unprecedented. Beyond the prestige, the expanded Club World Cup has provided a lucrative boost that is reshaping the economics of club football.
The next edition of the tournament is scheduled for 2029.
