Chelsea secured their place in the FIFA Club World Cup final with a 2-0 victory over Brazilian side Fluminense, thanks to a brace from debutant João Pedro. The 23-year-old Brazilian forward, who joined Chelsea just six days prior, made an immediate impact against his boyhood club, Fluminense. The match was held at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

João Pedro opened the scoring in the 18th minute with a composed, curling finish from the left side of the box. He showed respect for his former club by muting his celebration. Fluminense had a chance to equalize when a penalty was initially awarded for a handball by Trevoh Chalobah, but the decision was overturned after a VAR check. Marc Cucurella also made a crucial goal-line clearance to deny Hercules.

Chelsea asserted their dominance in the second half, and João Pedro doubled their lead in the 56th minute with a powerful strike off the crossbar. Cole Palmer initiated the move by dribbling past three players before passing to Enzo Fernandez, who then set up João Pedro. Again, João Pedro refrained from a full celebration.

Fluminense had several opportunities to score in the second half, but they were unable to convert them. Ultimately, Chelsea maintained their lead and secured the victory.

João Pedro, who spent time in Fluminense's youth system from the age of 10, refrained from exuberant celebrations out of respect for his former club. He is the first Brazilian to score for Chelsea in an official match since Thiago Silva against Sheffield United in the 2023-24 season.

Chelsea will now face either Paris Saint-Germain or Real Madrid in the final. Fluminense, despite the loss, exited the tournament with pride after an impressive run. Chelsea are seeking their second FIFA Club World Cup title, having previously won in 2021.

Enzo Maresca, the Chelsea manager, may have some concerns over an ankle injury sustained by Moises Caicedo late in the game. Despite not having much time to integrate with the team, João Pedro scored two excellent goals. He had previously played a few minutes in the quarter-final victory against Palmeiras. His first goal was a precise shot into the top corner, while his second was a powerful strike into the bottom corner.