Chelsea Crowned Club World Cup Champions, Pocket $125 Million Payday After Stunning PSG
In a historic and lucrative night at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, Chelsea stunned Paris Saint-Germain with a commanding 3-0 victory in the final of FIFA’s revamped 32-team Club World Cup, securing not just global bragging rights but a staggering $125 million in prize money.
The financial windfall places Chelsea’s triumph among the most valuable single-competition victories in football history. While winning a treble is often a club’s crowning achievement, Chelsea’s path to becoming World Champions ended with a payday that could reshape their transfer and squad planning heading into next season.
The Premier League side, who entered the tournament as UEFA Conference League champions, defied the odds by dismantling PSG, the reigning Champions League holders, in front of a 81,000-strong crowd that included former U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania.
Cole Palmer, the standout figure of Chelsea’s campaign, justified his rising status with two goals and an assist in the first half. He broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute, doubled Chelsea’s lead eight minutes later, and turned provider in the 43rd minute, setting up new signing Joao Pedro for the third.
PSG, who had demolished Real Madrid 4-0 in the semi-finals and were heavily tipped to lift the trophy, were left shell-shocked. Their misery was compounded late in the game when Joao Neves was sent off after a VAR check revealed violent conduct.
For Chelsea, the win marks the pinnacle of a resurgent season. Alongside their fourth-place Premier League finish and Conference League title, this Club World Cup triumph cements their comeback under new management. But beyond the silverware, the $125 million prize fund is expected to significantly bolster the club’s summer plans, especially as they juggle European and domestic commitments next season.
Though PSG will also take home a sizable portion of the competition’s prize money, the defeat stings for a team that hoped to end their season with a continental and global sweep. Having already clinched the Ligue 1 and Coupe de France titles, and with the Super Cup against Tottenham on the horizon, this missed opportunity puts a slight dent in an otherwise glittering campaign for Luis Enrique’s men.
FIFA’s decision to revamp the Club World Cup into a larger, American-hosted spectacle appears to have paid off, not only in spectacle but in the stakes. With a high-profile halftime show, record attendance, and global television viewership, the tournament’s elevation was mirrored by the scale of the prize. And Chelsea, by lifting the trophy, have cashed in, on and off the pitch.
