On 5th December, 2024, the draw was made for the 2025 edition of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. Despite a couple of seasons of decidedly below-par performances, Chelsea secured their place in the draw by winning the 2020/21 Champions League. The Blues have been drawn in a group alongside Flamengo (Brazil), Espérance de Tunis (Tunisia) and León (Mexico). We’ll come back to the 2025 competition later, but the main thrust of this article focuses on the time Chelsea went all the way and became champions of the world.
Chelsea (Short) Road to Club World Cup Glory in 2021
Although the FIFA Club World Cup first took place back in 2000, it’s fair to say it hasn’t exactly captured the imagination of your average football fan (at least not in England). Manchester United won the tournament in 2008 and Liverpool did likewise in 2019. But in 2021 it was Chelsea’s turn to give the competition a go. At least it was supposed to take place in 2021… the 2021 FIFA Club World Cup was actually played in 2022 due to… reasons that everyone’s almost certainly forgotten about by now!
Format
There were only seven sides at the 2021 edition: Chelsea and Palmeiras (Brazil), who both entered at the semi-final stage; Al-Hilal (Saudi Arabia), Al Ahly (Egypt) and Monterrey (Mexico), who entered at the second-round stage; and AS Pirae (Tahiti) and Al-Jazira (UAE), who entered in the first round.
Manager & Players
Thomas Tuchel was the Blues’ manager at the time and the side was packed with stars including Romelu Lukaku, N’Golo Kante and Thiago Silva. The structure of the tournament meant that by the time Chelsea faced Al-Hilal in their first game, the Saudis had already defeated Al-Jazira, who had earlier eliminated the Tahitians. Despite the obvious gulf in class between the sides, Tuchel’s men made rather hard work of things at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. They edged a 1-0 victory thanks to Lukaku’s goal in the 32nd minute.
Semi Final
In the other semi, Brazilian side Palmeiras beat Al Ahly 2-0 (the Egyptians had previously got the better of Mexican side Monterrey in the second round). That set up an England versus Brazil final which took place on 12th February 2022, again at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium. Palmeiras, managed by Portuguese former Braga boss Abel Ferreira, included mainly homegrown talent, with Paraguay’s captain Gustavo Gómez and Uruguayan full-back Joaquín Piquerez also in the mix.
The Match
After a laboured and goalless opening 45 minutes, the Blues came out with more energy and desire in the second period. Their increased intensity was rewarded in the 54th minute when Lukaku headed the opener past Palmeiras keeper Weverton. The Brazilians, who had won the 2021 Copa Libertadores, were not ready to roll over and accept defeat, however. They fought back admirably and forced a penalty in the 64th minute (for Silva’s handball which was confirmed after a VAR check). Raphael Veiga stroked the ball past Édouard Mendy for the equaliser in the 64th minute.
Neither side was able to create many chances after that and the game limped into extra time. As it looked as though the game – and hence the tournament – would be decided by penalties, the ref awarded one to Chelsea after another handball (with Luan the culprit). Kai Havertz, the man who scored the winning goal in the Champions League final for Chelsea, was again the hero of the moment as he skilfully sent the keeper the wrong way to put the Blues 2-1 up. With just a couple of minutes left on the clock, there was no way back for the Brazilians, and Tuchel added his third trophy to his haul with Chelsea after the Champions League and the UEFA Super Cup. Let’s hope he can win as many trophies as England boss!
Could Chelsea Win the Club World Cup in 2025?
All the confirmed information on the FIFA Club World Cup, ahead of tomorrow’s draw. 🏆#FIFACWC
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) December 4, 2024
After something of a restructuring, there are 32 teams in the 2025 renewal of the tournament, which is a big increase from the seven that have tended to compete. Based on the draw, Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea certainly have a reasonable chance of going all the way once again. But with 32 teams in the competition this time around, rather than the seven that took part when Chelsea won it, it’s not going to be easy. And while the Blues had to play just twice last time around, if they go all the way at this tournament in the USA, they’ll have played seven games.
The sides that finish in the top two places in each of the eight groups progress to the Round of 16, when it becomes a straight knockout format. Chelsea open their tournament against Group D opponents León, who won the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League. That will be followed by 2022 Copa Libertadores victors Flamengo, which is likely to be the toughest of the group games. Finally, they’ll go up against Espérance de Tunis.
Possible Opponents
Assuming Chelsea make it through the group, Maresca’s men will be unlikely to have an easy match in the Round of 16. Possible opponents include Bayern Munich or Boca Juniors, either of whom would pose serious questions. If they make it through that, Paris Saint-German look like being the most likely quarter-final opponent. That wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world given how PSG have been faltering in the Champions League. But the teams remaining at the semi-final stage are likely to be tricky, to say the least.
Betting Odds
The betting odds at the time of writing put Real Madrid and Manchester City as the joint-favourites (4/1), followed by Bayern Munich (13/2), Chelsea (8/1), PSG (11/1), Inter Milan (11/1) and Atletico Madrid (14/1). The Brazilian side that Chelsea beat in the 2021 final, Palmeiras, are the shortest-odds non-European side in the betting at the very hefty price of 22/1. Essentially, in the eyes of the bookies, this is being viewed as being all about the UEFA contingent. Whether or not that underestimates the sides from elsewhere remains to be seen.
Chances Are Good
Overall, given how well Maresca has settled at Chelsea, the Blues look to have as good a chance as most teams at the next Club World Cup. But as with any tournament that involves lots of very good sides (and the 2025 edition has far more good teams than 2021 did!), the winning club will need a combination of skill, determination and a fair chunk of luck.