On Sunday, July 13, Chelsea & Paris Saint-Germain faced off in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup Final. The match was held at MetLife Stadium, with the stadium set to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as well. If the match was a precursor for next year, the numbers speak for themselves, with the final boasting an attendance of 81,118, nearly maximum capacity. For the fans in attendance, they were given an exhilarating finale.
Paris Saint-Germain entered the match as significant favorites to win the match. With the club having already won the Champions League final earlier in the year, it seemed destined for them to win another major tournament. However, the magic of the tournament is that any team can win on any given day. For the underdogs, Chelsea, this proved to be the case.
Chelsea was able to halt Paris Saint-Germain’s dangerous offensive attack at the start of the match, long enough to allow Cole Palmer to score a 22nd minute goal to give them a 1-0 lead. Paris Saint-Germain were one of the most dangerous teams, so a one goal lead meant the game was far from over. However, a 30th minute goal from Palmer once again may have been the nail in the coffin.
In Paris Saint-Germain’s semifinal game, the team scored four goals, meaning even a two goal lead might not be enough. Though, Chelsea was able to contain their offense, something many others struggled with. Before halftime, João Pedro tacked on another goal for Chelsea, giving them a 3-0 lead. Chelsea was roughly 45 minutes away from capturing its second FIFA Club World Cup title since 2021.
In the second half, Chelsea held onto their lead, with neither team scoring. This was enough to lead them past Paris Saint-Germain by a score of 3-0. The impressive performance from Chelsea in the tournament’s new format is an impressive accomplishment to achieve.
As the FIFA Club World Cup comes to a close at MetLife Stadium, it is just the beginning of soccer in the Meadowlands. Hundreds of thousands of fans travelled from across the globe to watch their favorite club teams face off against one another. Come next year, even more people will be visiting to watch their countries be represented. The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup showed the foundation for soccer in the Meadowlands and is a sign of what is to come in the next year.