The curtain is set to fall on the inaugural edition of FIFA’s expanded 32-team Club World Cup this Sunday, with a star-studded final between European champions Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea at the iconic MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Among the expected high-profile guests is former U.S. President Donald Trump, adding extra glamour to an already electrifying occasion.
For FIFA president Gianni Infantino, the final is a dream ending to a tournament he described on Saturday as heralding the start of a “golden era for club football.”
Paris Saint-Germain have blazed a trail through the competition, continuing a historic season in which they secured a domestic league and cup double before finally lifting the UEFA Champions League for the first time in their history. Their 5-0 demolition of Inter Milan in May’s final marked a new high for the club under Spanish head coach Luis Enrique.
That momentum has powered PSG through the Club World Cup, with emphatic wins over Atletico Madrid, Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami, Bayern Munich, and a 4-0 masterclass against Real Madrid in Wednesday’s semi-final.
“It has been an incredible season,” Enrique told reporters on Friday. “Now it’s about finishing it in the best possible way.”
Chelsea, however, are determined to defy the odds. The London side arrived in the United States after a fourth-place Premier League finish and UEFA Conference League triumph. Though widely regarded as underdogs, Chelsea’s Reece James insists anything can happen in a final.
“They’re one of the hottest teams in world football, no doubt,” James admitted. “But finals are about who delivers on the day. I’ve seen favourites lose too many times to take predictions seriously.”
The Blues hope to have midfield anchor Moises Caicedo fit after he sustained an ankle injury during their semi-final victory over Brazil’s Fluminense.
Heat, Prize Money, and Packed Calendars
The final kicks off at 3:00 p.m. local time (1900 GMT) inside the 82,500-seater MetLife Stadium — the same venue set to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup final. Yet, there are concerns over sweltering afternoon heat and the strain of an intense fixture calendar. The match will mark PSG’s 65th competitive game since August and Chelsea’s 64th.
Despite the physical demands, the financial stakes are immense. Both finalists are guaranteed over $100 million in prize money, a timely windfall for Chelsea in particular following UEFA sanctions for Financial Fair Play breaches.
FIFA president Infantino, speaking confidently at Trump Tower on Saturday, declared the tournament a resounding success.
“We’ve created something new, something that’s here to stay,” he said. “This is already the most successful club competition in the world, and it’s only the beginning.”
The next edition of the FIFA Club World Cup is scheduled for 2029, with plans to build on this historic New York finale.
