Chelsea began their campaign in the expanded FIFA Club World Cup 2025 with a 2-0 victory over LAFC at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Goals from Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernández secured the win for the Premier League side in their Group D match.
The match, played on June 16, 2025, saw Chelsea, the two-time UEFA Champions League winners, dominate for extended periods, though LAFC demonstrated resilience and created attacking opportunities of their own. The first half saw a strong defensive effort from LAFC, but Chelsea broke the deadlock in the 34th minute when Pedro Neto scored from close range, giving Chelsea a 1-0 lead going into halftime.
LAFC emerged with renewed vigor in the second half, with David Martínez creating a couple of early chances to equalize. Denis Bouanga also tested Chelsea's goalkeeper Robert Sanchez after latching onto a long ball inside the penalty area. Despite these opportunities, LAFC were unable to find the back of the net.
Chelsea sealed the victory in the 79th minute when Enzo Fernández converted a pinpoint cross from Liam Delap, who was making his debut for the Blues after signing from Ipswich Town. The goal cemented Chelsea's control of the match and ensured a comfortable finish.
LAFC, making their debut in the FIFA Club World Cup, showed glimpses of promise and proved they could compete against top European talent. Their performance provides a foundation to build on as they prepare for their remaining group matches against ES Tunis and Flamengo. The team is confident that they can secure points in those matches and advance to the Round of 16. Sergi Palencia, LAFC's right-back, emphasized the team's determination to compete, stating, "We are going to be so focused, so ready. Let's see what we can do. Let's see how big is the difference [between the clubs]."
Chelsea's victory marks a strong start to their Club World Cup campaign. After a solid first season under Enzo Maresca, capped by Conference League success, Chelsea aims to build momentum and mount a significant challenge for the Premier League title next season.
The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 is being held in the United States from June 14 to July 13, 2025. This year's tournament is the first to feature an expanded format with 32 teams, mirroring the format used in the FIFA World Cup. Teams are divided into eight groups of four, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the knockout stage. The tournament is taking place in 12 venues across 11 cities in the USA, with a substantial prize pool of $1 billion USD up for grabs.
