Chelsea defeated Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 to win the newly expanded edition of the Club World Cup, in a commanding performance at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The win caps a remarkable rise for the London club, who also lifted the UEFA Conference League earlier in the year.

Cole Palmer was at the heart of the victory, scoring twice and assisting a third goal in a performance that left the European champions stunned. Palmer opened the scoring in the 22nd minute, placing a low shot past PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma after a clever run from Malo Gusto behind Nuno Mendes. He doubled Chelsea’s lead eight minutes later with a near-identical goal, using a dummy to create space at the edge of the box before firing another low effort beyond Donnarumma.

Just before halftime, Palmer delivered a pinpoint pass that allowed new Chelsea signing Joao Pedro to lob Donnarumma for the third goal, effectively sealing the result before the break. PSG had brief attacking moments in the second half, with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia forcing a save from Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez. Sanchez also denied Ousmane Dembele from close range in one of the second half's most threatening moments for the French side.

Substitute Liam Delap also tested Donnarumma with a powerful shot, while PSG’s Joao Neves and Desire Doue missed clear chances when the score was still goalless earlier in the game. The match turned even further against PSG in the 85th minute when Neves was sent off following a VAR check for pulling Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella’s hair.

The post-match scenes were marred by controversy, as PSG manager Luis Enrique appeared to slap Chelsea’s Joao Pedro during an altercation. PSG substitute Presnel Kimpembe had to restrain his coach. Enrique later claimed he was trying to break up a confrontation and defuse the situation, citing pressure and emotions at full-time.

The result is a significant setback for PSG, who entered the match as UEFA Champions League winners following a near-perfect season that saw them defeat Liverpool, Manchester City, Arsenal, and Aston Villa, while also claiming three domestic trophies. However, they never looked in control during the final and struggled to respond to Chelsea’s intensity.

The match attracted a crowd of 81,118—the largest attendance of the tournament—with former U.S. President Donald Trump and FIFA president Gianni Infantino among those in attendance. With this victory, Chelsea earned an estimated £90 million in prize money and reasserted their place on the world stage.

Palmer, who featured on billboards in New York’s Times Square and took part in a FIFA promotional shoot with Ballon d'Or contender Dembele before the match, has further elevated his status with this performance. At just 23, he has quickly become the symbol of a resurgent Chelsea under the ownership of Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital.

Every Chelsea player delivered a strong performance, with notable contributions from goalkeeper Sanchez, full-back Malo Gusto, and winger Pedro Neto, who worked tirelessly against PSG’s Achraf Hakimi. Joao Pedro continued his fine form, scoring his third goal in three matches since joining the club.

Both Chelsea and PSG will now break for the summer. Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has granted his players three weeks off before they return to face Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan at Stamford Bridge on 8 and 10 August in a mini pre-season tournament. Their Premier League campaign kicks off against Crystal Palace on 17 August. PSG will next feature in the UEFA Super Cup against Tottenham Hotspur on 13 August to open their 2025-26 season.