Chelsea, PSG set for blockbuster Club World Cup final at MetLife

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FIFA Club World Cup

Live on Supersport

Sunday, Final, 10pm

Chelsea v PSG
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Football has transitioned during the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.

The world’s most popular sport is now more than just a game. It has evolved into a combination of sport and a glamorous event with charming promos, famous artists, and celebrity moments leading up to games.

Sunday’s FIFA Club World Cup final between Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain has already been packaged that way, just like the Super Bowl final, the biggest annual championship game of the National Football League (NFL) in the United States.

Paris Saint-Germain's Italian goalkeeper #01 Gianluigi Donnarumma and Paris Saint-Germain's Portuguese midfielder #17 Vitinha take part in a training session at Rutgers University in Piscataway, New Jersey, on July 11, 2025, ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 final football match between England's Chelsea and France's Paris Saint-Germain. (Photo by JUAN MABROMATA / AFP)

If football, or the final itself, isn’t your thing, surely, the glamour around it should spark your attention.

An inspired halftime music performance by Grammy winner Doja Cat and two highly successful artists J Balvin and Tems has been lined up for a huge global audience and the 82,000 fans that will make it to the iconic MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

Even the hard-to-please US President Donald Trump, whose primary hobby is golf, is thrilled. “I’ll be going to the game,” Trump told his Cabinet meeting.

Classic showdown

The build-up to the game will be intense, but when the warm-ups are done, the stage will be left for legendary Ring Announcer Michael Buffer.

Aimed at enhancing the fans experience, FIFA decided to hire Buffer, whose signature catchphrase “Let’s get ready to rumble!” is associated with major boxing events.

Doja Cat performs at Coachella on 14 April 2024. Photograph: Valérie Macon/AFP/Getty Images

The 80-year-old Buffer was brought in for the semi-finals and final as part of the pre-match introductions. The players’ walk-on announcer to the pitch has added vibe and a distinctly American spin on things that is rarely seen at football games elsewhere.

Buffer’s “Let’s get ready to rumble!” will raise the curtains on what should be a classic European showdown on American soil.

The build-up to the game will be intense, but when the warm-ups are done, the stage will be left for legendary Ring Announcer Michael Buffer. (Courtesy photo)

With both clubs having accumulated over $100m (sh357b) in prize money so far from the competition, the winner of the final will sign out with $125m (sh448b).

Clearly, the final will be more than just playing for a trophy.

Road to the final

Both sides lost to the Brazilian opposition in the group stages. Chelsea lost 3-1 to Flamengo while PSG 1-0 to Botafogo. These results seemed to bring the best out of both sides that won major European titles recently – Chelsea, the UEFA Europa Conference League and PSG, the UEFA Champions League.

Chelsea took advantage of a favourable draw in which they played just one European team in the knockout round (beat Benfica 4-1), before eliminating Palmeiras 2-1 in the quarters and Fluminense 2-0 in the semi-finals.

Chelsea's Italian head coach Enzo Maresca, Chelsea's French striker #18 Christopher Nkunku and Chelsea's French defender #27 Malo Gusto take part in a training session at the Harrison Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on July 11, 2025, ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 final football match between England's Chelsea and France's Paris Saint-Germain. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)

PSG, on the other side, were really tested and passed all tests with flying colours.

The French champions beat Inter Miami 4-0, eliminated Bayern Munich 2-0 in the quarters before humiliating Real Madrid in a 4-0 thrashing in the semi-finals. PSG are strong both defensively and in attack.

Their wingbacks Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes are incredible, while midfielders Vitinha, Fabian Ruiz and Joao Neves are well-rounded and dynamic.

Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratshkhelia are being glorified for their telepathic understanding and incredible goal-scoring return.

Ousmane Dembele

From a wider perspective, Chelsea will need an incredible performance just to stay in this contest.

Otherwise, the more likely outcome is for PSG to run away with this one, and cap off an incredible quadruple season with a historic world title.

What both managers are saying:

Chelsea Head Coach, Enzo Maresca

“It has been a fantastic season - top four in the Premier League, Conference League and now in the final of this competition. We are so, so happy. We go game by game. Finally, we have the last game of the season, and hopefully we can win the tournament."

Paris Saint-Germain head coach,

“We are in a special season, a special moment, and we have one more step against a very good team like Chelsea. Now it’s time to prepare. We want to make history for our club.”

Probable line-ups:

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; James, Chalobah, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez, Nkunku; Palmer, Neto; Joao Pedro

PSG (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Beraldo, Nuno Mendes; Vitinha, Joao Neves, Fabian Ruiz; Doue, Dembele, Kvaratskhelia.