So, it actually happened. After all the talk about fixture congestion, the heat in New Jersey, and whether a 32-team format would actually work, the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 final teams finally walked out at MetLife Stadium on July 13, 2025. It wasn't the "all-South American" showdown some predicted, nor was it a repeat of a classic Champions League final like Real Madrid vs. Manchester City.
Instead, we got Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain.
Honesty, if you’d told a Chelsea fan back in 2023—when the club was sitting mid-table and looking completely lost—that they’d be the first-ever winners of the expanded "Super" Club World Cup, they probably would’ve laughed you out of the pub. But football is weird like that. Under Enzo Maresca, the Blues found a weird, clinical rhythm that carried them through a grueling month of football in the United States. They didn't just show up; they dominated.
The Road to New Jersey: How Chelsea and PSG Became the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Final Teams
To understand how these two became the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 final teams, you’ve gotta look at the bracket. It was a meat grinder.
Chelsea’s path was anything but smooth. They actually finished second in Group D after a frustrating 3-1 loss to Flamengo in Philadelphia. Most pundits thought that was the beginning of the end. But then something clicked. They scraped past Benfica 4-1 in a match that went to extra time, outlasted Palmeiras in the quarters, and eventually took down Fluminense 2-0 in the semis.
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On the other side, PSG looked like a juggernaut. They were basically playing a different sport for most of the tournament. After winning Group B, they dismantled Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami 4-0—which, let's be real, was the game everyone in America wanted to see—before knocking out Bayern Munich and then absolutely humiliating Real Madrid 4-0 in the semi-finals.
By the time the final rolled around, PSG were the heavy favorites. They had the momentum. They had the "Galactico" vibe. But Chelsea had Cole Palmer.
A Tactical Masterclass at MetLife
The final itself was sort of a shock to the system for the 81,118 fans in attendance. PSG had 66% of the ball. They passed Chelsea into circles for the first 20 minutes. But possession doesn't win trophies, and Chelsea's counter-attack was lethal.
- 22nd Minute: Cole Palmer opens the scoring with a clinical finish.
- 30th Minute: Palmer again. A brace within 10 minutes. The stadium went quiet, then erupted.
- 43rd Minute: João Pedro, the new signing who only officially joined the squad on July 2, makes it 3-0.
Game over. Basically.
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PSG tried to fight back in the second half, but the frustration boiled over. João Neves saw red in the 85th minute for a professional foul on Marc Cucurella, and that was the final nail. PSG might have conquered Europe earlier in the year, but the global crown stayed with the Londoners.
What This Result Means for the Global Game
This tournament was a massive experiment. FIFA wanted to see if they could replicate the magic of the international World Cup at the club level. Did it work? Sort of.
The attendance numbers were huge, averaging nearly 40,000 per match across 12 venues. Seeing teams like Mamelodi Sundowns and Ulsan HD compete against the giants of Europe gave the tournament a flavor we haven't seen before. However, the fact that two European teams ended up as the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 final teams does raise some questions about the widening gap between UEFA and the rest of the world.
Money talks. Chelsea and PSG both walked away with well over $100 million in total earnings from the tournament. For a club like Chelsea, that kind of cash injection is a game-changer for FFP/PSR compliance. For PSG, it’s another step toward their goal of becoming the undisputed biggest brand in sports.
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Key Takeaways from the 2025 Final
If you missed the match or just want the "too long; didn't read" version of why this final mattered, here’s the breakdown:
- Cole Palmer is the Real Deal. He won Best Player for a reason. His ability to perform on the biggest stage is unmatched right now.
- The Format is Exhausting. You could see the fatigue in the second half. Players were cramping, the tempo dropped, and the "summer football" heat in Jersey was a major factor.
- South American Giants are Close, but not quite there. Palmeiras and Fluminense both gave Chelsea scares, but the depth of the European squads eventually told.
- MetLife is Ready for 2026. This was a dress rehearsal for the 2026 World Cup Final. With Donald Trump and Gianni Infantino watching from the stands, the logistics seemed to hold up, though the "mostly cloudy" 83°F weather was a reminder of how brutal the 2026 summer will be.
What's Next for the Club World Cup?
Now that the dust has settled on the 2025 edition, the football world is looking toward 2029. FIFA has already confirmed the quadrennial format is here to stay.
For the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 final teams, the immediate future is about recovery. Chelsea players had almost no summer break before heading back into Premier League training. It's a grueling cycle that's going to spark more debate about player welfare. But for now, Chelsea fans don't care. They are the "Inaugural Super Club World Champions," a title that no one can ever take away from them.
If you’re looking to follow how this affects the 2025-26 domestic seasons, keep an eye on the injury reports. The "Club World Cup Hangover" is a very real threat for teams that went deep into July.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check the 2026 World Cup Schedule: Since MetLife Stadium just successfully hosted this final, it's the perfect time to look at ticket info and travel logistics for the "big" World Cup coming next year.
- Review FFP Impact: If you're a Chelsea fan, look into how the $125m+ prize money changes the club's transfer strategy for the winter window.
- Watch the Replays: DAZN still has the highlights of the PSG vs. Real Madrid semi-final—honestly, it was arguably a better game than the final itself.