Chelsea dismantled Paris Saint-Germain 3–0 at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey to claim the inaugural edition of FIFA’s new-format Club World Cup. Cole Palmer was the undisputed star of the evening, scoring twice and assisting the third goal.

PSG, who arrived in the U.S. as reigning UEFA Champions League winners and fresh off a resounding 4–0 semifinal victory over Real Madrid, were seen as clear favorites. But this time, the roles were reversed: instead of leading by three at halftime as they had against Real, the Parisians found themselves trailing 0–3 by the break.

Palmer opened the scoring midway through the first half, doubled Chelsea’s lead on the half-hour mark, and then set up Joao Pedro in the 43rd minute for a third goal, exploiting PSG’s defensive vulnerability. By halftime, the French champions were already out of answers.

PSG’s miserable night ended with a red card for Joao Neves four minutes from time — after a VAR review, he was sent off for pulling Marc Cucurella’s hair off the ball.

The scoreline shocked many, but Chelsea’s dominance was undeniable. The London club capped off a long but historic season — having also lifted the UEFA Conference League and secured fourth place in the Premier League. The Club World Cup victory earned Chelsea a major financial reward as well: approximately $125 million in prize money.

While PSG will receive similar compensation, the disappointment was palpable — they missed the chance to add another trophy to a season that already brought them a Champions League crown, Ligue 1 title, and French Cup triumph. Nonetheless, their main objective — conquering Europe — was achieved. Luis Enrique’s side will now enjoy a month-long break before returning to face Tottenham Hotspur in the UEFA Super Cup.

The MetLife Stadium in New Jersey provided a spectacular setting, with views of the Manhattan skyline and a vibrant crowd of over 81,000. Among the spectators were U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump. The final was also marked by a historic first — FIFA’s inaugural halftime show, echoing the grandeur of the Super Bowl.

On the pitch, things moved quickly. Palmer nearly scored in the opening 10 minutes, while PSG missed a golden opportunity on the counter when Desire Doue opted to pass to Achraf Hakimi instead of shooting, allowing Cucurella to intercept. In the 22nd minute, Malo Gusto broke down the right and saw his shot blocked by Lucas Beraldo, but recovered the ball and teed up Palmer, who slotted it calmly into the bottom-left corner.

Palmer struck again in the 30th minute — this time exploiting a positional error by Nuno Mendes and placing the ball once more into the same corner. Just before the break, Joao Pedro, who had joined from Brighton during the tournament, netted the third goal after a well-timed assist from Palmer.

PSG, who had conceded just one goal in their previous eight matches, offered little in terms of response. Joao Neves headed narrowly wide in first-half stoppage time, and substitute Liam Delap nearly made it 4–0 midway through the second half. Neves’s red card sealed PSG’s fate and confirmed Chelsea’s emphatic triumph. | BGNES