On July 8, 2025, Chelsea secured a spot in the FIFA Club World Cup final with a 2-0 win over Fluminense, driven by João Pedro’s brace in his full debut. The Blues now await Real Madrid or Paris Saint-Germain in the July 13 final.
João Pedro, who joined from Brighton for £60 million ($79 million) just six days earlier, scored twice against his childhood club, Fluminense, at MetLife Stadium. He scored in the 18th and 56th minutes. For his first goal, João Pedro curled a strike into the net after Pedro Neto delivered a cross following a failed clearance by Thiago Silva. He added his second with a powerful shot that struck the crossbar, assisted by Enzo Fernández, helping secure the victory.
New signing João Pedro's brace against his old team, Fluminense, powers Chelsea to the FIFA Club World Cup final 🔥
The Blues will face the winner of the semifinal between PSG and Real Madrid. pic.twitter.com/MNNd8IQO0d
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) July 8, 2025Chelsea had a rough start in the group stage, losing to Flamengo, but bounced back strongly in the knockout rounds, defeating Benfica 4-1 and Palmeiras 2-1. Fluminense, the last non-European team in the competition, had an impressive run that included victories over Inter Milan and Al-Hilal. VAR overturned a controversial penalty decision, and Marc Cucurella’s goal-line clearance helped Chelsea maintain a clean sheet. Coach Enzo Maresca praised the team’s performance, calling it a “fantastic season” and highlighting their success in finishing in the top four of the Premier League and in the Conference League.
Revealed: The STAGGERING speed of Joao Pedro's net-busting strike that sealed Chelsea's place in Club World Cup final https://t.co/yIBGENqzLq
— Mail Sport (@MailSport) July 8, 2025Chelsea is facing concerns regarding Moisés Caicedo’s recent ankle injury, and Maresca is hopeful for his recovery. The upcoming final against either PSG or Real Madrid, both of whom are recent Champions League winners, presents a significant challenge. According to Opta’s supercomputer, PSG is favoured to win with a probability of 38.9%, as reported by The Analyst.
Read: Luka Modric to Join AC Milan After Real Madrid’s Club World Cup in 2025
Chelsea’s $104 million earnings, potentially rising to $114 million with a win, underscore the tournament’s financial stakes.
