🔵 Chelsea
Club World Cup team hub
Premier League turbulence as prep work
Chelsea’s 2021 Champions League triumph under Thomas Tuchel feels distant after two mid-table Premier League finishes. The Todd Boehly era has seen £1bn spent on transfers but scant cohesion — a stark contrast to Manchester City’s machine-like consistency. Their last domestic trophy was the 2023 EFL Cup, with Mauricio Pochettino now tasked with stabilizing a bloated squad. The Club World Cup offers respite from league woes, but their group stage opponents will target defensive vulnerabilities exposed by Brentford (4-1 loss, March 2024) and Arsenal (5-0, April 2024).
The Enzo-Caicedo pivot gamble
Pochettino’s £220m midfield duo — Enzo Fernández and Moisés Caicedo — remains a work in progress. Fernández’s creative spark (7.3 progressive passes per 90) clashes with Caicedo’s disruptive instincts (3.1 tackles per 90), leaving gaps that Bundesliga sides like Bayern Munich exploited in preseason. Against Club World Cup opponents likely to sit deep, their ability to dictate tempo will be critical. The absence of a true defensive midfielder since N’Golo Kanté’s departure leaves them exposed to counterattacks — a weakness Al Hilal’s Sergej Milinković-Savić could exploit.
Stamford Bridge ghosts on foreign soil
Chelsea’s last Club World Cup appearance in 2012 ended in humiliation — a 1-0 final loss to Corinthians at Yokohama’s Nissan Stadium. This time, matches in the USA’s 90°F June heat test their conditioning. Their 2023 preseason tour saw players cramping in Las Vegas friendlies, raising concerns about adapting to climate-controlled NFL venues like SoFi Stadium. The core of Reece James, Levi Colwill, and Conor Gallagher carries Champions League experience, but only Thiago Silva (38) has lifted this trophy — with Fluminense in 2012.
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Borussia Dortmund | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | Chelsea | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | Inter Milan | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | AC Milan | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Match | Date | Group | Score | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chelsea vs Inter MilanEstadio Philadelphia | Sat, Jun 21, 2025 · 14:00 ET | c | – | Scheduled |
| Chelsea vs Borussia DortmundEstadio Philadelphia | Sun, Jun 22, 2025 · 17:00 ET | c | – | Scheduled |
| Chelsea vs AC MilanEstadio Philadelphia | Mon, Jun 23, 2025 · 20:00 ET | c | – | Scheduled |
Frequently asked questions
How did Chelsea qualify for the Club World Cup?+
By winning the 2020-21 Champions League, defeating Manchester City 1-0 in the final — their second title in the competition after 2012.
What’s Chelsea’s best Club World Cup finish?+
Runners-up in 2012, losing 1-0 to Corinthians in Japan after Fernando Torres missed multiple chances.
Which current Chelsea players have Club World Cup experience?+
Only Thiago Silva (won with Fluminense in 2012) and Raheem Sterling (lost 2011 final with Liverpool).
How does the Premier League schedule affect their preparation?+
The 2025-26 season ends on May 24, 2026 — giving Chelsea just 18 days between domestic fixtures and their Club World Cup opener.
Which venues will Chelsea play at in the Club World Cup?+
Group stage matches at SoFi Stadium (Inglewood) or Levi’s Stadium (Santa Clara), with knockouts potentially at MetLife (New Jersey) or Hard Rock (Miami).