Chelsea got their Club World Cup campaign off to a winning start against Los Angeles FC in Atlanta on Monday. The Blues went to the summit of Group D after a 2-0 victory over Major League Soccer (MLS) opponents who only earned their spot at the inaugural expanded 32-team summer tournament at the beginning of the month with a tense play-off victory over Club America in extra time, following Club Leon’s failed appeal against their removal by FIFA.
Pedro Neto was assisted by Nicolas Jackson to find the breakthrough for Chelsea after a dominant first-half display, though the game opened up significantly thereafter, with Robert Sanchez making a couple of important saves to thwart Denis Bouanga before £30million signing Liam Delap came off the bench to assist Enzo Fernandez’s important late goal at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, where a disappointing crowd of just over 22,000 people watched the game in a venue with a capacity of 71,000.
Enzo Maresca may be considering some squad rotation as Chelsea now head back to their Philadelphia base to face Brazilian giants Flamengo on Friday evening, while next up for LAFC is Esperance de Tunis in Nashville.
Chelsea vs LAFC highlights
- GOAL! Debutant Delap tees up Fernandez finish
- GOAL! Pedro Neto fires dominant Chelsea in front
Chelsea 2-0 LAFC
22:02 , George FloodFull-time
Chelsea are up and running in Group D at the Club World Cup with a victory.
Plenty to work on for the Conference League winners and they certainly didn’t have everything their own way, particularly for stretches of a competitive and open second half, but it was comfortable enough in the end and Delap’s assist on debut was a standout moment.
It’s Brazilian giants Flamengo up next for the Blues in Philadelphia on Friday evening.
LAFC won’t be too despondent as they prepare to face Esperance de Tunis in Nashville later that evening.
Chelsea 2-0 LAFC
22:00 , George Flood94 mins: LAFC are denied a last-gasp penalty at one end before Chelsea break at pace and Neto’s fierce effort from range clatters the crossbar.
That would have been the icing on the cake for the Blues.
Chelsea 2-0 LAFC
21:58 , George Flood90 mins: Three minutes of added time signalled at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, where Chelsea have been very comfortable since the second goal.
A great start to his Blues career for Delap...
Delap enters the match and immediately makes magic 🔥
— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) June 16, 2025
Watch the @FIFACWC | June 14 - July 13 | Every Game | Free | https://t.co/i0K4eUtwwb | #FIFACWC #TakeItToTheWorld #CHELAF pic.twitter.com/bNwaD6UHZp
Chelsea 2-0 LAFC
21:5587 mins: Tillman has been withdrawn for LAFC - Marlon Santos on.
Yaw Yeboah also replaces Delgado.
Chelsea 2-0 LAFC
21:53 , George Flood85 mins: More last-ditch defending from LAFC thwarts Chelsea at the last.
The official attendance has been announced as 22,137 - not what FIFA will want to see.
Essugo wins the ball back for the Blues well, almost leading to a chance for fellow debutant Delap.
Lloris diverts the danger.
Chelsea 2-0 LAFC
21:49 , George Flood83 mins: LAFC have replaced Igor Jesus with Frankie Amaya.
Another Chelsea debut now as Dario Essugo replaces Caicedo.
Palmer also makes way for Christopher Nkunku.
Chelsea 2-0 LAFC
21:48 , George Flood80 mins: Again Chelsea fall asleep at the back in alarming fashion, Gusto just about recovering to knock over Bouanga, who still forces Sanchez into another save.
GOAL! Chelsea 2-0 LAFC | Enzo Fernandez 79'
21:4579 mins: Chelsea have been riding their luck a bit here but now they double their advantage!
Delap with an assist on his debut as his cross is taken down by fellow substitute Fernandez, who then fires home from inside the six-yard box.
Game, set and match?
Chelsea 1-0 LAFC
21:43 , George Flood77 mins: Into the last 15 minutes in Atlanta and it’s chaos inside that Chelsea box, the ball flying everywhere in pinball fashion before its turned wide at the back post.
That could have been 1-1, but I think the offside flag would have gone up.
Chelsea 1-0 LAFC
21:42 , George Flood74 mins: Delap is a real threat again in the LAFC box, but he’s repelled by Segura before the defender wins a pressure-relieving free-kick.
Chelsea 1-0 LAFC
21:41 , George Flood73 mins: Cucurella and Martinez are in a bit of a running battle here and the Chelsea full-back is now cautioned.
Chelsea 1-0 LAFC
21:37 , George Flood70 mins: Lacklustre defending from Gusto and Hollingshead has far too much space to lash over the bar from outside the box.
Cucurella and Caicedo are both limping here for Chelsea.
Chelsea 1-0 LAFC
21:35 , George Flood69 mins: A rare lack of composure from Palmer inside the LAFC box as he plays a neat one-two with Neto before blasting over the bar.
He should have done so much better with that.
1-0 to Chelsea it remains with 20 minutes to play in Atlanta.
Chelsea 1-0 LAFC
21:34 , George Flood68 mins: Delap with a promising glimpse of what he can offer Chelsea there as he runs away from his marker, gets into the box and beats another defender next to the byline before his cut-back is blocked behind.
Chelsea 1-0 LAFC
21:3266 mins: Tosin with a crucial intervention as LAFC try to release Giroud on the counter-attack.
A very open feel to this game at the moment.
Chelsea will not be comfortable with this remaining 1-0.
Chelsea 1-0 LAFC
21:29 , George Flood64 mins: Liam Delap is coming on for his Chelsea debut now in Atlanta.
Jackson off and Tyrique George also replaces Madueke.
Martinez was booked a few minutes ago for LAFC for a clash with Cucurella that left the Spaniard in a heap.
Chelsea 1-0 LAFC
21:28 , George Flood62 mins: A couple of headers from Tosin inside the LAFC box following a corner, but Lloris makes a confident catch.
Chelsea 1-0 LAFC
21:27 , George Flood60 mins: Wonderful feet from Palmer, who exchanges passes with Jackson inside the box before beating three defenders as he heads to the byline before being denied by a committed tackle at the last.
Chelsea 1-0 LAFC
21:22 , George Flood56 mins: Huge save from Sanchez, who denies Bouanga with his foot after the Gabon forward had shrugged off the attentions of Neto inside the box.
A big let-off for Chelsea there and a clear warning not to get too comfortable.
Chelsea 1-0 LAFC
21:20 , George Flood55 mins: Chelsea pose more danger from another corner but LAFC just about clear their lines.
The pressure is really mounting once again though and Lloris has to come and collect as Madueke looks to race through.
Chelsea 1-0 LAFC
21:19 , George FloodStandard Sport’s Simon Collings
Jackson so unlucky there. He deserves a goal.
A lot of his hold-up and link play has been excellent.
A timely showing with Liam Delap on the bench.
Chelsea 1-0 LAFC
21:18 , George Flood53 mins: So close to 2-0 to Chelsea as Neto’s cross is headed goalwards by Jackson, only for the ball to hit a rather unsuspecting Tillman and fizz agonisingly wide of the post.
Chelsea 1-0 LAFC
21:1651 mins: A couple of scares for Chelsea in quick succession, Martinez showing great skill to beat Cucurella all ends up before getting his finish all wrong and slicing well wide of the front post.
Chelsea 1-0 LAFC
21:15 , George Flood49 mins: Neto suddenly turns on the jets for Chelsea down the right flank and LAFC are left scrambling, but his cut-back bounces off Jackson and flies wide.
Good pressure applied by Ryan Hollingshead in the middle.
Chelsea 1-0 LAFC
21:12 , George FloodStandard Sport’s Simon Collings
Those two substitutions from Chelsea must be pre-planned.
Lavia and James, especially the former, had both been solid in that first half.
Chelsea 1-0 LAFC
21:10 , George FloodThe mystery of the delayed start to the second half is finally solved as one of LAFC’s substitutes comes racing around the pitch with a shirt for Giroud, who had evidently forgotten it.
The former Chelsea striker comes on for Ebobisse.
Can he haunt his old club?
Back underway at last.
Chelsea 1-0 LAFC
21:08Some confusion around a potential LAFC substitution here too after Gusto has to go off and come back on again for Chelsea.
Giroud has his top off but doesn’t seem to be coming on just yet.
Chelsea 1-0 LAFC
21:06 , George FloodThe players are back out on the pitch at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, where the second half is imminent.
Maresca is making a half-time double change, with Malo Gusto and Enzo Fernandez replacing Reece James and Romeo Lavia.
Chelsea 1-0 LAFC
20:59A brilliant goal from Chelsea to take the lead in Atlanta.
A super pass from the effective Jackson to release Neto, who pulled off a sumptuous turn to check inside before picking out the bottom corner.
33' ⚽ GOAL! Pedro Neto nets the first goal for @ChelseaFC 🔥
— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) June 16, 2025
Watch the @FIFACWC | June 14 - July 13 | Every Game | Free | https://t.co/i0K4eUtwwb | #FIFACWC #TakeItToTheWorld #CHELAF pic.twitter.com/DAnKWNXDGo
Chelsea 1-0 LAFC
20:52Half-time
Tempers flare after the half-time whistle over on the touchline with James and Neto both involved.
Not a vintage first half from Chelsea by any means, but they’ve been dominant for the most part and deservedly lead through Neto’s 34th-minute goal.
Madueke and Palmer have also gone close and Maresca will expect his side to pull away after the interval.
LAFC boss Steve Cherundolo won’t be too disappointed.
His team have lacked quality but aren’t out of this by any means.
Chelsea 1-0 LAFC
20:49 , George Flood45 mins: Tosin slips into a tackle on Ebobisse and joins James in the book.
LAFC with a dangerous free-kick delivery into the back post, but the offside flag is up again.
Into two minutes of stoppage time at the end of this first half.
Chelsea 1-0 LAFC
20:47 , George Flood42 mins: LAFC have seen plenty of the ball since going behind, but they are still suffering from a real lack of quality despite obvious pace out on the flanks.
Colwill with another block.
Chelsea 1-0 LAFC
20:45 , George Flood39 mins: The error-prone Sanchez allows an LAFC free-kick to slip through his fingers but Chelsea are eventually able to regather and Colwill boots clear.
Ordaz is heading off in a blow for LAFC. On comes David Martinez.
Chelsea 1-0 LAFC
20:40 , George Flood36 mins: LAFC look to respond to that setback quickly and James is booked for a shove.
Ordaz has taken a blow to the head here and won’t be able to continue.
Chelsea 1-0 LAFC
20:39Standard Sport’s Simon Collings
A lovely finish from Neto and the game's first moment of real quality.
Let's see if Chelsea can kick on from here. The game should open up.
GOAL! Chelsea 1-0 LAFC | Pedro Neto 34'
20:36 , George Flood34 mins: There’s the breakthrough!
Jackson’s fine through ball picks out the run of Neto, who checks inside wonderfully before firing beyond Lloris and into the bottom corner.
Chelsea are off and running at the Club World Cup.
Chelsea 0-0 LAFC
20:35 , George FloodStandard Sport’s Simon Collings
A pretty tough watch so far. The game is being played like a pre-season friendly - desperately needs a goal to spark it into life.
Chelsea 0-0 LAFC
20:31 , George Flood29 mins: A couple of dangerous-looking deliveries into the box from Pedro Neto, but Madueke ends up glancing wide with a header at the back post.
Still goalless after half an hour in Atlanta, but you’d be surprised if Chelsea did not go on and win this comfortably.
Chelsea 0-0 LAFC
20:3027 mins: Chelsea try to release Palmer in behind but Lloris is there to intervene.
LAFC attempt to break with pace but the offside flag is swiftly raised.
Chelsea 0-0 LAFC
20:27 , George Flood24 mins: An easy take for Sanchez after a poor LAFC free-kick delivery into the box follows a foul by Caicedo, who receives a ticking off by the referee.
One of the first touches of the ball for Chelsea’s under-pressure No1, who has been a total spectator at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium thus far.
Chelsea 0-0 LAFC
20:25Standard Sport’s Simon Collings
Madueke has been Chelsea's best player so far. Carrying on his good form for England earlier this month.
Chelsea 0-0 LAFC
20:24 , George Flood20 mins: The early corners are mounting for Chelsea now as they continue to swarm LAFC, who are creaking at the back.
James is the latest to try his luck for the Blues, but his strike is blocked.
No effective out ball for LAFC at the moment.
Chelsea 0-0 LAFC
20:23 , George Flood19 mins: Chelsea are absolutely dominating possession in Atlanta as Palmer shifts the ball nicely onto his left foot and sees a deflected effort land on the roof of the net.
Chelsea 0-0 LAFC
20:20 , George Flood17 mins: The chance of the game so far for Chelsea as Madueke exchanges neat passes with Jackson on the edge of the box before seeing a low drive repelled by Lloris.
Palmer’s follow-up attempt is well blocked.
Chelsea 0-0 LAFC
20:17 , George Flood14 mins: Chelsea are starting to open up this LAFC defence now but Madueke’s low cross from the byline fails to pick out Jackson or Palmer.
The MLS side scramble clear.
Chelsea 0-0 LAFC
20:1612 mins: A short break in play due to a tech issue for the referee.
Chelsea roar forward now with a dangerous attack, but Madueke can’t bring in or turn a difficult ball from Palmer goalwards.
LAFC break again, but there’s a lack of quality once more and the Blues snuff out the danger with minimal fuss.
Chelsea 0-0 LAFC
20:13 , George Flood10 mins: Some bright moments for LAFC at times, but play-off hero Bouanga is getting no change out of James early on.
A pass intended for the run of Ebobisse is overhit and sails out of play for a goal kick to Sanchez.
Both teams are trying to press heavily early on in the Atlanta heat.
Chelsea 0-0 LAFC
20:12 , George FloodStandard Sport’s Simon Collings
Fair play to LAFC, who are quite happy to press Chelsea high up the pitch. In this heat, and with the lack of ball they'll have, it's a bold strategy.
Chelsea 0-0 LAFC
20:08 , George Flood5 mins: Another early sign of intent from Chelsea as Jackson turns inside the box and manages to fire a shot on goal from an awkward position.
Easy save for Lloris.
Plenty of noise coming from the LAFC fans at the moment.
Chelsea 0-0 LAFC
20:07 , George Flood4 mins: Nice work from Palmer inside the LAFC box as he tees up Madueke, who hesitates to shoot and the chance is lost.
A frenetic early pace to this game as the Americans launch their own pacey counter.
Chelsea 0-0 LAFC
20:05 , George FloodStandard Sport’s Simon Collings
If there was any doubt about how seriously Maresca is taking this competition, then the team he has picked tonight ends it.
Now to see if the players are as up for it as him.
Chelsea 0-0 LAFC
20:05 , George Flood2 mins: A confident start from the MLS side, who are stroking the ball around nicely as Ordaz looks to pose a threat inside the box.
Chelsea quickly look to release Jackson on the counter-attack, but Lloris comes racing out of his box to sweep up the danger.
Chelsea vs LAFC
20:04 , George FloodUnderway at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Jesus Valenzuela of Venezuela is tonight’s referee, supported by VAR official Juan Soto.
Will Chelsea get their Club World Cup campaign off to a winning start in Atlanta?
Kick-off imminent
20:01 , George FloodIndividual player introductions for both sides is surely too much, especially in front of a crowd this low.
Anyway, that’s finally over now and kick-off is imminent in Atlanta.
Here come the players
19:55The Chelsea players are currently being introduced onto the pitch one by one.
This could take a while.
So many empty seats.
Final preparations
19:51 , George FloodPhotos on social media show a very sparse crowd indeed leading up to kick-off at a hot and humid Mercedes-Benz Stadium, where the roof is closed and apparently there is air conditioning.
A 3pm kick-off time was never likely to draw in a big audience.
Moises Caicedo is still sporting a facemask after the cheek injury he sustained in the Premier League defeat by Newcastle last month.
Cole Palmer now wearing No10 for Chelsea
19:44 , George FloodIn case you missed it last week, Cole Palmer has had a change of squad number at Chelsea.
He has moved from 20 to 10, with uncertainty continuing over the provisionally suspended Mykhailo Mudryk.
Dario Essugo has taken the No14 from Joao Felix, while Liam Delap is determined to break the curse of Chelsea’s No9 shirt.
The No19 vacated by Jadon Sancho has gone to Mamadou Sarr, with new goalkeeper Mike Penders - who isn’t involved tonight - given No39.
Strong Chelsea support in Atlanta
19:35There looks to be plenty of support for Chelsea in Atlanta today...
Lloris starts for LAFC but Giroud on bench
19:22 , George FloodOlivier Giroud is only on the bench against his former club this evening, but ex-Tottenham captain Hugo Lloris starts in goal for LAFC as expected.
Steve Cherundolo makes two changes from their last outing, the 3-1 home win over Sporting Kansas City in the MLS last week in which Giroud got the final goal deep into stoppage time.
Former USA defender Aaron Long replaces Marlon Santos at centre-back, while further forward Yaw Yeboah makes way for young forward Nathan Ordaz.
Celtic loanee Odin Holm is among the substitutes after injury.
LAFC lineup
19:14LAFC XI: Lloris, Palencia, Hollingshead, Long, Segura, Igor Jesus, Delgado, Tillman, Ebobisse, Ordaz, Bouanga
Subs: Ochoa, Hasal, Chanot, Marlon, Burgess, Yeboah, Amaya, Holm, Raposo, Saldana, Giroud, Martinez, Wibowo
New signings Delap, Essugo and Sarr on Chelsea bench
19:10 , George FloodEnzo Maresca makes five changes to the Chelsea team that lined up in the Conference League final against Real Betis in Wroclaw on May 28.
Robert Sanchez returns in goal as Filip Jorgensen drops out, while Reece James, Tosin Adarabioyo and Levi Colwill replace Malo Gusto, Benoit Badiashile and Trevoh Chalobah in defence.
Romeo Lavia is preferred to Enzo Fernandez in midfield, while the front four is unchanged.
Liam Delap is on the bench, along with fellow new signings Mamadou Sarr and Dario Essugo.
Chelsea lineup
18:58 , George FloodChelsea XI: Sanchez, James, Tosin, Colwill, Cucurella, Caicedo, Lavia, Neto, Palmer, Madueke, Jackson
Subs: Jorgensen, Acheampong, Gusto, Chalobah, Badiashile, Sarr, Anselmino, Essugo, Fernandez, Santos, Dewsbury-Hall, George, Nkunku, Delap, Guiu
Lineups on the way
18:55 , George FloodCaptain Reece James is among the Chelsea players to have been out inspecting the pitch at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium this evening.
Official team news on the way very shortly from Atlanta.
Enzo Maresca fires Club World Cup warning to Chelsea stars
18:52Enzo Maresca has warned his Chelsea players not to take the challenge of LAFC lightly and insisted that they will not be treating the Club World Cup as a pre-season competition.
“We had a few days off [after the Conference League final] and some new players have arrived, so when we saw each other three or four days ago at Cobham, the feeling was a little bit like when you return for pre-season,” he said last night.
“But the first thing I said, and the main message since we returned, is that we are not here for pre-season, it’s a big, big tournament.
“We achieved something important by finishing in the top four in the Premier League, and we won the European competition we were in. But now that is done, finished, and we have to focus on the competition we are in now.
“We had one competition this season, the Conference League, and the most difficult thing was convincing the players that it was the game of the season for our opponents, so if you don’t prepare in the right way, you can be in trouble.
“We have a difficult game [against LAFC] and if we are not ready and prepared, we can be in trouble. So we must prepare 100 per cent.
“And no matter who the other team is, when you are a Chelsea player or head coach, you need to win games.”
Chelsea launch move for Lyon winger Malick Fofana
18:39Some breaking Chelsea transfer news to bring you before tonight’s Club World Cup clash in Atlanta.
Enzo Maresca made it clear yesterday that the Blues were in the market for a new winger this summer having paid the £5m penalty fee not to take up their obligation on Jadon Sancho and also failed to complete a deal with Borussia Dortmund for Jamie Gittens.
According to David Ornstein of The Athletic, Chelsea have now made a verbal enquiry to Lyon over 20-year-old Belgian international Malick Fofana.
He is said to be among multiple options currently being considered by the club.
LAFC's season so far
18:29 , George FloodThe 2025 MLS season is currently ongoing, with a break taken for the Club World Cup, which coincides with the CONCACAF Gold Cup taking place in the United States and Canada.
LAFC - an expansion franchise founded in 2014 who only began playing in 2018 - currently sit fifth in the Western Conference with seven wins from their 16 matches, unbeaten in their last nine games since losing to Inter Miami in the CONCACAF Champions Cup quarter-finals in April.
They are 13th in the overall MLS table, having finished first in the Western Conference last season before losing to Seattle Sounders in extra time in the playoff semi-finals.
Last September, they won the U.S. Open Cup for the first time by beating Sporting Kansas City in extra time in Los Angeles.
They are one of three MLS teams competing in this Club World Cup, along with Seattle and Inter Miami.
Other notable players over recent years to have turned out in the black and gold of LAFC include Gareth Bale, Carlos Vela and Giorgio Chiellini.
Why are LAFC at the Club World Cup?
18:22 , George FloodThose fans who may not have paid much attention to the Club World Cup news headlines since the initial draw for the inaugural expanded 32-team summer tournament was made last December may be surprised to see LAFC as Chelsea’s opening opponents.
The Blues had been scheduled to kick off a Group D also containing Brazilian giants Flamengo and Tunisian side Esperance de Tunis against Club Leon tonight, only for the Mexican outfit to be removed having been deemed by FIFA to have failed to meet competition rules relating to multi-club ownership.
Club Leon - whose appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) was not successful - share owners with Pachuca, who have remained in Group H along with Real Madrid, Al-Hilal and Red Bull Salzburg.
The initial complaint was made by Costa Rican club Alajuelense as they looked to replace Club Leon, but instead FIFA decided on a one-off qualifying play-off tie between LAFC and Club America, which the MLS side won 2-1 on home soil at BMO Stadium last month after a dramatic extra-time winner from Gabon forward Denis Bouanga.
Igor Jesus had earlier kept LAFC alive with an 89th-minute equaliser to cancel out a penalty from ex-LAFC star Brian Rodriguez.
LAFC are coached by former United States defender Steve Cherundolo, who spent his entire playing career in Germany with Hannover.
That retractable roof at the $1.6billion Mercedes-Benz Stadium really is quite eye-catching, featuring a pinwheel including eight translucent panels.
Looks like it’s going to be closed tonight, so it’ll be hot and humid conditions in Atlanta, where kick-off is at 3pm in the afternoon.
Temperatures in the city are currently up around 30 degrees with plenty of sunshine
Tonight's venue
18:06An early look inside tonight’s venue, the impressive Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.
The state-of-the-art venue - which has a unique retractable roof - first opened in 2017 and is home to the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons, as well as Atlanta United in the MLS.
It has a 71,000 capacity for American football matches that drops to 42,500 for soccer games, though that can also be increased up to 71,000 where necessary.
Let’s see what kind of crowd we get tonight.
Mercedes-Benz Stadium. 🏟️ pic.twitter.com/D0O9oFQgMP
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) June 16, 2025
Enzo Maresca warns Liam Delap over Chelsea striker battle
17:59 , George FloodLiam Delap is with Chelsea at the Club World Cup instead of in Slovakia with England for the Under-21 European Championship, having completed a £30m transfer from relegated Ipswich to Stamford Bridge earlier this month.
He will be keen to make a fast impression having worked with the likes of Enzo Maresca, Cole Palmer and Romeo Lavia before, during his early days at Manchester City.
Maresca believes the 22-year-old has what it takes to become England’s starting centre-forward in future, though warned that he will have to earn Chelsea opportunities in a battle with Nicolas Jackson to lead the line.
"I said Liam can be England's No9 when we faced Ipswich. Now he is a Chelsea player, I'm going to say again, I don't have any doubt that he can be in the future England No9,” Maresca said this week.
“I never say to a player you are going to be first-choice. The message is always the same: you arrive, you work hard, you work more than the other No9 and you can be first-choice No9.
“So the conversation with Liam was quite clear. He was keen to join us because he knows the way we play from the season that we were together [at City].
“We won for the first time for Manchester City the [Premier League] under-23 competition, and he scored 24, 25 goals that season.
“So he knows exactly what we can give to him, and as I said before, I know what Liam can give us.
“So I think it’s a win-win, and the conversation was quite an easy one. We like Liam, Liam likes us, so it was an easy conversation.”
Enzo Maresca allays fitness fears over Cole Palmer
17:49 , George FloodSome Chelsea fans were worried that Cole Palmer may have been dealing with an illness after being spotted disembarking the squad’s initial flight to the USA last week wearing a facemask.
That came after he was also left as an unused substitute by Thomas Tuchel during England’s shock home friendly defeat by Senegal at the City Ground.
However, any fitness concerns were firmly allayed when Enzo Maresca spoke to the press in Atlanta last night.
“To be honest, I saw him on the flight with the mask, but I didn’t ask,” said the Italian.
“I think, probably, because he was a little bit… to be honest, I don’t know if it was even for a joke, I don’t know.
“He is okay. He did a session two or three days in a row with us and he is okay.”
Chelsea vs LAFC prediction
17:39 , George FloodMuch depends on whether Enzo Maresca takes this tournament 100 per cent seriously.
If he does, then the Blues should have far too much for their opponents, even if they are playing on home soil in the USA.
Chelsea to win, 2-0.
Chelsea's Club World Cup squad in full
17:35 , George FloodHere is Chelsea’s 28-man Club World Cup squad in full, of course minus both Mike Maignan and Jamie Gittens after they failed to wrap up those particular transfer deals ahead of the first summer deadline last week.
Goalkeepers: Filip Jorgensen, Mike Penders, Robert Sanchez, Gabriel Slonina
Defenders: Josh Acheampong, Tosin Adarabioyo, Aaron Anselmino, Benoit Badiashile, Trevoh Chalobah, Levi Colwill, Marc Cucurella, Malo Gusto, Reece James, Mamadou Sarr
Midfielders: Moises Caicedo, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Dario Essugo, Enzo Fernandez, Romeo Lavia, Andrey Santos
Forwards: Liam Delap, Tyrique George, Marc Guiu, Nicolas Jackson, Noni Madueke, Pedro Neto, Christopher Nkunku, Cole Palmer
LAFC team news
17:32 , George FloodLAFC are expected to be without Celtic loanee Odin Holm in Atlanta this evening due to injury.
Otherwise the Major League Soccer (MLS) side look to be close to full strength, with veteran striker Olivier Giroud hoping to haunt his former club in attack.
Former Tottenham captain Hugo Lloris will be expected to start in goal, meanwhile.
Chelsea team news
17:27 , George FloodNew signings Liam Delap, Mamadou Sarr, Dario Essugo and Mike Penders are all in Chelsea’s 28-man Club World Cup squad and will hope to quickly make their mark in the competition, alongside returning loanees such as Andrey Santos.
Illness concerns over Cole Palmer have been allayed, though Wesley Fofana and Omari Kellyman have not made the trip due to injury.
South American quartet Santos, Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez and Aaron Anselmino all joined up with the squad at their training base in Philadelphia this week following international duty.
Mykhailo Mudryk remains unavailable, with the omissions from Chelsea’s tournament squad including the likes of Joao Felix, Axel Disasi, Djordje Petrovic, Ben Chilwell, Raheem Sterling, Kendry Paez, Mathis Amougou and Renato Veiga.
How to watch Chelsea vs LAFC
17:18 , George FloodTV channel: Channel 5 has secured 23 Club World Cup games to show live in the UK, and this match is one of them. Coverage starts at 7pm BST.
Live stream: DAZN also has broadcast rights to the tournament, and will screen all 63 games live free-to-air on its platform.
Free highlights: Channel 5 will show highlights of every game on its social media accounts and on YouTube.
Chelsea vs LAFC live
17:15 , George FloodGood evening and welcome to Standard Sport’s live coverage of Chelsea’s Club World Cup curtain-raiser as they begin their Group D campaign against Los Angeles FC at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
Less than three weeks have passed since that memorable Conference League final in Wroclaw, with Enzo Maresca already eyeing another major trophy as several new Blues signings hope to make an immediate impression stateside this summer.
Kick-off in Georgia tonight is at 8pm BST, so keep it right here for all your match build-up, breaking team news and live game updates.
