The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 concluded dramatically on 13th July 2025 at MetLife Stadium, New Jersey, as Chelsea FC lifted the trophy after a third consecutive title victory of 3–0 against Paris Saint-Germain in the final. With a brand new 32-team format, the event was fronted with electrifying play, breakout stars and unprecedented moments. So, everything you need to know, from the format changes, and thrilling knockout matches to the key award winners and insight as to why the 96 online game is particularly popular with Premier League punters.
Introduction: A Newly Created Tournament
The tournament was hosted over a period from June 15 to July 13 in the United States. The 2025 Club World Cup was the first full-scale 32-team Club World Cup designed with the 32-team format from a FIFA Men’s World Cup, with teams representing 6 continents competing in a group stage and knockout rounds representing their respective federations.
This revamp is intended to boost global representation, representation of audiences and commercial opportunities, and most were successful. It was a month-long affair involving over 2.3 million fans from across the 12 cities, setting up similar formats in the future.
Best and Worst Performers of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025
Best Team: Chelsea FC
Chelsea were invincible from start to finish. Under manager Enzo Maresca, they played compact, counter-attacking football, based on elite technical quality and defensive robustness. With star turns from Cole Palmer and João Pedro, Chelsea breezed through the tournament without dropping points. The final, a 3-0 victory over PSG, was a tactical masterpiece, featuring Palmer scoring twice and Pedro scoring another before halftime.
Disappointments
There was no outright embarrassment by any single team. Nevertheless, there were certainly teams from Asia and North America that were outclassed through the group stage. Inter Miami, who qualified as CONCACAF’s top-ranked representative, proved to be ineffective, while some representatives from CAF simply couldn’t keep up with the pace or physicality of their UEFA or CONMEBOL counterparts.
What Was the New Format of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025?
The 2025 tournament replaced the old 7-team format with a 32-club format, split into 8 groups of 4. The top two teams from each group entered a knockout stage bracket. All knockout stage rounds, starting with the Round of 16 and right through to the Final, were single-elimination rounds.
- Total Teams: 32
- Total Matches: 63
- Venues: 12 U.S. cities (Miami, Los Angeles, Dallas, New York)
- Knockouts: R16, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, Final
Despite some fears about possible congestion of match schedules, the new format allowed for better representation in regards to global club football geography, as well as a more prestigious structure for the football tournament.
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Knockout Stage Highlights of FIFA Club World Cup 2025
Round of 16
Chelsea 4–1 Benfica (AET): In Charlotte, Chelsea came from behind to win after extra time thanks to goals from Nkunku, Pedro Neto and Dewsbury-Hall after Benfica had a player sent off.
PSG 4–0 Inter Miami: Mbappé, Dembélé and Vitinha destroyed the American team with a comfortable win.
Quarter Finals
Chelsea 2–1 Palmeiras: Chelsea beat the Brazilian champions in Philly thanks to a late winner from João Pedro.
PSG 2–0 Bayern Munich: PSG beat the German champions 2-0 thanks to goals from Gonçalo Ramos and Fabian Ruiz.
Semi Finals
Chelsea 2–0 Fluminense: João Pedro scored twice for Chelsea in a calm, solid performance to advance.
PSG 4–0 Real Madrid: In a result that would be seen as the shock of the tournament, PSG beat Real Madrid, scoring through Ruiz (2), Dembélé and Ramos.
Final: Chelsea 3–0 PSG (Metlife Stadium, July 14)
The final was one-way traffic. At the Metlife Stadium, Cole Palmer scored two before João Pedro made it three before half time (22′, 30′ and 43′) before PSG’s João Neves was sent off in the dying minutes. PSG was never able to find any rhythm due to Chelsea’s disciplined midfield and pressing that shut off any creative sources.
Award Winners and Prize Breakdown of FIFA Club World Cup 2025
FIFA confirmed the following tournament awards:
| Category | Winner |
| Best Player | Cole Palmer (Chelsea) |
| Top Goalscorer | Gonzalo García (Real Madrid) – 4 goals |
| Best Young Player | Désiré Doué (Rennes) |
| Best Goalkeeper | Robert Sánchez (Chelsea) |
Chelsea, as champions, are believed to earn in the neighbourhood of $100 million in prize money. The total prize fund across all teams was more than $1 billion, meaning this was the richest Club World Cup ever.
Additionally, Chelsea earned the right to wear the FIFA World Champions gold badge until the next one, whenever that may be.
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Conclusion
The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 raised the bar for international club football. Chelsea’s dominance, PSG’s thrilling run of form, with the added flair from players like Cole Palmer and Désiré Doué, have made this an enjoyable tournament. While the expanded format might have initially received scepticism, this format has proven to be a success in both competitive and commercial capacities.
In terms of prospects, this tournament looks to stay on the international calendar. For clubs, it provides international prestige, for fans it provides cross-continent rivalries, and for bettors it provides an experience between the domestic and global markets.
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Quick Recap: Final Statistics
| Detail | Info |
| Tournament Dates | 15 June-13 July 2025 |
| Host Country | United States |
| Winner | Chelsea FC |
| Final Score | Chelsea 3-0 PSG |
| Best Player | Cole Palmer |
| Top Scorer | Gonzalo García: 4 goals |
| Best Young Player | Désiré Doué |
| Best Goalkeeper | Robert Sánchez |
| Total Attendance | 2.3 million+ |
| Number of Matches | 63 |
| Number of Teams | 32 |
