Chelsea opened their Club World Cup campaign with a relatively comfortable 2-0 win against LAFC in Atlanta.
With a trophy in tow after Conference League success capped a solid first season under Enzo Maresca, Chelsea will now hope to build and mount a more realistic title challenge in the Premier League next season. First, though, they will look to negotiate this competition, and began strongly enough with a goal in either half enough to meet their opponents from MLS. The bright Pedro Neto opened the scoring on the half-hour mark before Liam Delap made an impact on debut off the bench, creating a chance that Enzo Fernandez finished neatly.
Flamengo and Esperance de Tunis are the other pair of teams in Group D, with the top two advancing to the knockout rounds. The expanded competition is being held at 12 venues across the United States, with 32 entrants ranging from some of Europe’s biggest clubs to semi-professional Auckland City.
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Chelsea vs LAFC
- Chelsea beat LAFC in Club World Cup opener
- Goals from Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernandez set up comfortable victory in Atlanta
- GOAL! CHELSEA 1-0 LAFC (Pedro Neto, 34 minutes)
- GOAL! CHELSEA 2-0 LAFC (Enzo Fernandez, 80 minutes)
- FT: Chelsea 2-0 LAFC
And here's Liam Delap
22:10 , Harry Latham-Coyle“It’s a really happy feeling for me. I’m so excited to be here, play my first game and contribute. They’ve welcomed me really well. I can’t wait for more.
“It’s always healthy to have competition. It’s football and this is an incredible club, but you’ve got to thrive off the competition.”
Enzo Maresca speaks after Chelsea's win
22:04 , Harry Latham-Coyle“Very good result,” the Chelsea boss says. “The good thing about Liam is that he knows the way we want to play. We also gave a chance to Dario Essugo, so it was good for both of them.
“We need to recover, we have a game in three days. We are going to prepare in the best way and try to win.”
FT: Chelsea 2-0 LAFC
22:03 , Harry Latham-CoyleComfortable enough for Chelsea in Atlanta, not too much to stress or strain the players. Pedro Neto was bright enough, and new recruits Liam Delap and Dario Essugo both went well off the bench.
FULL TIME: Chelsea 2-0 LAFC
21:58 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Chelsea 2-0 LAFC, 90 + 3 minutes
21:58 , Harry Latham-CoyleDenis Bouanga really hasn’t been far away from breaking Chelsea open tonight. Malo Gusto just gets his challenge right, making enough contact to unsteady Bouanga as he enters the box but not enough to draw the referee’s whistle.
The final act of the game is nearly something spectacular: Pedro Neto flicks the top of the crossbar with a searing drive. That’s that, though.
Chelsea 2-0 LAFC, 90 minutes
21:55 , Harry Latham-CoyleEddie Segura ventures forward out of defence to take an Olivier Giroud pass and fire away a shot, but a deflection takes the sting out of it and makes it easy for Robert Sanchez to gather on his knees.
Into three added minutes.
Chelsea 2-0 LAFC, 87 minutes
21:52 , Harry Latham-CoyleYaw Yeboah and Marlon Santos are thrown on as LAFC search for a route back into the game late on.
Chelsea 2-0 LAFC, 84 minutes
21:49 , Harry Latham-CoyleA couple more changes for Chelsea, including the introduction of another new boy. The tough-tackling Dario Essugo comes on in midfield with Christopher Nkunku also utilised off the bench further forward.
Chelsea 2-0 LAFC, 81 minutes
21:46 , Harry Latham-CoyleNearly one back! A driving run from Denis Bouanga, who hits the deck as he strikes under contact from Malo Gusto. There is no foul and Robert Sanchez is down swiftly enough to keep out the effort.
Gusto had initially totally misjudged the flight of a diagonal to let Bouanga in.
GOAL! CHELSEA 2-0 LAFC (Enzo Fernandez, 80 minutes)
21:44 , Harry Latham-CoyleA surge into the box and Enzo Fernandez doubles Chelsea’s lead!
Good goal, this. Liam Delap peels away to the right to collect a Cole Palmer pass, creating room up the centre. Fernandez fills it, injecting intelligently to latch on to Delap’s curling cross and ram it home.
Chelsea 1-0 LAFC, 77 minutes
21:42 , Harry Latham-CoyleThree opportunities in quick succession for LAFC - though I think all came after an offside for which the flag is eventually waved. They are far from out of this, though.
Chelsea 1-0 LAFC, 75 minutes
21:40 , Harry Latham-CoyleAn excellent bit of defending from Timothy Tillman, first hustling back to get the right side of Liam Delap to help Aaron Long out of a predicament and then drawing a foul from the Chelsea striker.
Chelsea 1-0 LAFC, 72 minutes
21:36 , Harry Latham-CoyleNot far away! Left-back Ryan Hollingshead has a swing from 30 yards and almost plants it into the top corner having been afforded a lot of room by Chelsea.
Chelsea 1-0 LAFC, 69 minutes
21:34 , Harry Latham-CoyleWhat a miss! Blazed over the bar by Cole Palmer with the goal seemingly at his mercy after a delicious passing move from the corner.
Chelsea 1-0 LAFC, 68 minutes
21:33 , Harry Latham-CoyleA first really bright moment from Liam Delap, spinning a defender with pace and power and very nearly setting up Enzo Fernandez with a cut back. LAFC scramble the ball behind for a corner.
Chelsea 1-0 LAFC, 66 minutes
21:30 , Harry Latham-CoyleEnzo Fernandez looks to curl one to the far corner but only succeeds in shoving it into the shins of a blocker all of a foot away.
Chelsea 1-0 LAFC, 64 minutes
21:28 , Harry Latham-CoyleHere we are then - a Chelsea debut for Liam Delap. Enzo Maresca throws his new No 9 into the fray in the place of Nicolas Jackson; Tyrique George also replaces Noni Madueke.
Chelsea 1-0 LAFC, 62 minutes
21:27 , Harry Latham-CoyleTosin Adarabioyo gets up to meet a Malo Gusto cross after a corner is only half-cleared by LAFC. There’s too much loop on his header to seriously test Hugo Lloris.
Chelsea 1-0 LAFC, 58 minutes
21:23 , Harry Latham-CoyleDavid Martinez is booked after swiping at Marc Cucurella...though it looked like the instigating action was from the Chelsea left-back before he fell to the floor dramatically. Martinez’s hands were high, though.
Chelsea 1-0 LAFC, 56 minutes
21:21 , Harry Latham-CoyleA flurry of chances at both ends! Denis Bouanga gets the better of Pedro Neto in a tussle and lashes goalwards, with Robert Sanchez standing tall to beat it away.
Chelsea 1-0 LAFC, 54 minutes
21:18 , Harry Latham-CoyleOff the line! Almost two for Chelsea, Pedro Neto picking out Nicolas Jackson perfectly in the box. Jackson’s header looks bound for the back of the net but strikes an unsuspecting Timothy Tillman, who diverts it past the far post more through luck than judgement.
Chelsea 1-0 LAFC, 52 minutes
21:17 , Harry Latham-CoyleA decent tempo to the game now after lacking a little bit of intensity in the first half. Chelsea earn a corner
Chelsea 1-0 LAFC, 51 minutes
21:15 , Harry Latham-CoyleChance! A stroke of luck for Chelsea as Olivier Giroud inadvertently gets in the way of David Martinez’s shot, deflecting it wide to save a sprawling and scrambling Robert Sanchez.
Chelsea 1-0 LAFC, 50 minutes
21:14 , Harry Latham-CoyleYou wonder at what point Enzo Maresca will be tempted to introduce his own replacement No 9, with Liam Delap lurking among his substitutes. Nicolas Jackson and Noni Madueke have connected well so far, mind.
Chelsea 1-0 LAFC, 48 minutes
21:12 , Harry Latham-CoyleOlivier Giroud was never the most mobile striker even in his heyday, but he will give LAFC a focal point they looked to lack in that first half. He’ll be a major threat from set pieces, too, if his side can generate any.
Chelsea 1-0 LAFC, 46 minutes
21:09 , Harry Latham-CoyleSome confusion, now, with LAFC perhaps short of a body. Olivier Giroud’s shirt is off, though I think it more to show off his physique than to indicate any imminent introduction - but nobody can quite work out what is going on. Enzo Maresca and a couple of Chelsea players make their frustration known to the referee.
Hang on - it will be Giroud coming on...he’s forgotten his shirt! Farcical. That really does sum it up. Back underway with a fully-clothed Frenchman amongst things.
Chelsea 1-0 LAFC, 46 minutes
21:06 , Harry Latham-CoyleIn fact, Enzo Maresca isn’t going to risk Reece James - Malo Gusto has been introduced, while Enzo Fernandez is on in midfield, too. It looks like Romeo Lavia has departed.
Second half...
21:05 , Harry Latham-CoyleThe players re-emerge, hopefully with those simmering tensions of the end of the first 45 minutes just calmed a bit. Reece James was in the thick of things, I think playing peace-maker - both he and Tosin Adarabioyo are on bookings, of course.
HT: Chelsea 1-0 LAFC
20:50 , Harry Latham-CoyleA few handbags after the half-time whistle is blown for...some reason. All rather odd.
Anyway, Chelsea in control and not out of the low gears. Back for more in a bit.
HALF TIME: Chelsea 1-0 LAFC
20:50 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Chelsea 1-0 LAFC, 45 minutes
20:48 , Harry Latham-CoyleTwo minutes added on at the end of the half. Tosin Adarabioyo joins fellow defender Reece James in the book after sliding through the back of a would-be recipient of a pass.
Chelsea 1-0 LAFC, 41 minutes
20:44 , Harry Latham-CoyleAn unfortunate slip from Jeremy Ebobisse, studs not quite catching in the turf as he tries to retrieve a knock-down in the Chelsea box.
Chelsea 1-0 LAFC, 38 minutes
20:41 , Harry Latham-CoyleA delay as Nathan Ordaz is seen to by the LAFC medics having taken a bang to the head. A change will be made, but not before the free kick...which is tipped over the bar by Robert Sanchez.
On comes talented Venezuelan teenager David Martinez.
Chelsea 1-0 LAFC, 36 minutes
20:38 , Harry Latham-CoyleThe first caution of the game goes the way of Reece James as he chops down Denis Bouanga after being narrowly second to a bouncing ball.
GOAL! CHELSEA 1-0 LAFC (Pedro Neto, 34 minutes)
20:37 , Harry Latham-CoyleChelsea lead. A soft pass in midfield allows Marc Cucurella to nip in, and Chelsea break with speed. A lovely pass from Nicolas Jackson sends Pedro Neto scampering through, and a defender slides out of frame as Neto produces a crisp Cruyff turn. A tidy finish and the Premier League side are in front.
Chelsea 0-0 LAFC, 29 minutes
20:31 , Harry Latham-CoyleBright work from Pedro Neto again, zipping past Ryan Hollingshead and swinging in another delivery. Too deep and tall for Noni Madueke to make anything of it.
Chelsea 0-0 LAFC, 27 minutes
20:29 , Harry Latham-CoyleLAFC finding their footing more, now, sharper in the tackle and hassling Chelsea in possession.
Chelsea 0-0 LAFC, 24 minutes
20:26 , Harry Latham-CoyleRyan Hollingshead surges forward down the left for LAFC, getting into an advanced area after Chelsea turnover possession near halfway. Moises Caicedo is adjudged to have fouled Denis Bouanga, perhaps harshly, granting the American side a free kick 30 yards or so from goal.
Bouanga takes...dreadful. A floated cross bounces tamely through to Robert Sanchez.
Chelsea 0-0 LAFC, 21 minutes
20:23 , Harry Latham-CoyleReece James now lets fly, though he can’t pierce the thicket of LAFC bodies.
Chelsea 0-0 LAFC, 20 minutes
20:22 , Harry Latham-CoyleChelsea are really in control now. Cole Palmer curls over the top of the crossbar, a flick on the way through earning his side a corner.
Chelsea 0-0 LAFC, 18 minutes
20:20 , Harry Latham-CoyleTop save! Nicolas Jackson’s sweet feet set up Noni Madueke, who drives low across goal. It’s within lunging distance of Hugo Lloris’s left boot, though, the veteran French shot-stopper keeping it out.
Chelsea 0-0 LAFC, 16 minutes
20:18 , Harry Latham-CoyleLAFC are settling into shape relatively speedily but there have just been a couple of times where Chelsea have looked a threat on the counter attack. Cole Palmer is drifting, as is his wont in this system, trying to escape the attentions of Igor Jesus and co. in midfield.
Chelsea 0-0 LAFC, 14 minutes
20:16 , Harry Latham-CoyleA second dodgy touch in the box from Noni Madueke. This time it is Pedro Neto finding him after good work from Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson had set up a crossing opportunity at the byline - it comes over at a slightly awkward height but Madueke will have hoped to have done better with that, shinning it to a defender.
Chelsea 0-0 LAFC, 12 minutes
20:14 , Harry Latham-CoyleA small issue with the communication pack on the back of the referee leads to a pause.
Chelsea 0-0 LAFC, 10 minutes
20:14 , Harry Latham-CoyleA steady start from Chelsea, not yet lifting the energy and perhaps still feeling the fatigue of a long season in regular competition.
Chelsea 0-0 LAFC, 5 minutes
20:09 , Harry Latham-CoyleDenis Bouanga looks to get at Reece James, opening up his body this way and that to feign in each direction. The Chelsea skipper doesn’t buy it, picking his moment and stepping in with a spot of assistance from Pedro Neto.
Chelsea 0-0 LAFC, 5 minutes
20:07 , Harry Latham-CoyleSharp save! A superb turn from Nicolas Jackson in the box nonetheless sees the striker tumble, making it a fine effort with his right foot as he somehow contorts a shot away. Hugo Lloris is equal to it.
Chelsea 0-0 LAFC, 4 minutes
20:06 , Harry Latham-CoyleCole Palmer, who has switched his number to 10 ahead of this tournament, is up alongside Nicolas Jackson early, looking to get on the ball.
He does for the first time, skipping out of a challenge and teeing up Noni Madueke...whose touch is poor. Chance gone.
Chelsea 0-0 LAFC, 1 minute
20:03 , Harry Latham-CoyleGood defending from Reece James early on, calmly collecting the ball as it runs away from an LAFC dribbler and popping it back to Robert Sanchez to complete the clearing job.
KICK OFF!
20:02 , Harry Latham-CoyleUp and away in Atlanta.
Chelsea vs LAFC
19:53 , Harry Latham-CoyleIt’s fair to say Mercedes-Benz Stadium isn’t full to the rafters on this humid Monday afternoon. Sparse gatherings of the spectators in the seats are ready to welcome the two sides.
Chelsea vs LAFC
19:51 , Harry Latham-CoyleFlamengo and ES Tunis meet later in Philadelphia in today’s other game in this group - who will set the early pace? LAFC have been in reasonable recent form, beating Sporting KC in their last MLS outing before the season paused.
Gianni Infantino arrives at his moment but football’s response is coming
19:40 , Harry Latham-CoyleThis expanded Club World Cup is - perhaps worryingly - the baby of Gianni Infantino, Fifa’s biggest cheese ready to enjoy his moment - though a backlash may be coming, as Miguel Delaney explains:
Gianni Infantino arrives at his moment but football’s response is coming
Chelsea vs LAFC
19:30 , Harry Latham-CoyleThe Mercedes-Benz Stadium looks a lovely place, the home of the Atlanta Falcons only eight years old and of outstanding design. Crucially, it also has an advanced air conditioning system - which I’m sure both teams will be grateful for to avoid the heat of the afternoon Georgia sun.
Chelsea vs LAFC
19:15 , Harry Latham-CoyleLAFC boast the first and third most-capped male French footballers in their squad, with Hugo Lloris and Olivier Giroud lending all sort of experience to Steve Cherundolo’s side. They earned their spot at this tournament thanks to a play-off win in extra time against Club America after Club Leon’s removal from the event.
LAFC team news
19:08 , Harry Latham-CoyleHugo Lloris starts in goal for LAFC, with Olivier Giroud primed to make an impact off the bench against his former club.
LAFC XI: Lloris; Palencia, Long, Segura, Hollingshead; Tillman, Jesus, Delgado; Ordaz, Ebobisse, Bouanga.
The Starting XI for #CHEvLAFC#LAFC | @FIFACWC pic.twitter.com/0BnSPyyO9Q
— LAFC (@LAFC) June 16, 2025
Chelsea team news
18:59 , Harry Latham-CoyleEnzo Maresca resists the urge to start Liam Delap immediately as Nicolas Jackson returns from suspension up front.
Chelsea XI: Sanchez; James, Tosin, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Lavia; Neto, Palmer, Madueke; Jackson.
Our team to face LA FC. 🔵👊 pic.twitter.com/rCPPJUOSFQ
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) June 16, 2025
Enzo Maresca predicts big impact from new Chelsea No 9 Liam Delap
18:45 , Harry Latham-CoyleHaving won the race to sign Liam Delap earlier in the summer, Enzo Maresca has predicted big things from Chelsea’s new No 9 - though has refused to confirm his place in the pecking order at Stamford Bridge.
“I never say to a player they will be first choice,” Maresca explained. 'The message is the same: you arrive, you work hard, you work more than, in this case, the other No.9s, and you can be the first choice. The conversation with Liam was quite clear; he was keen to join us because he knows how we play.
“Liam knows quite well how important the No.9 is. Personally, I don’t see any problem about that; Liam is quite relaxed and easy. He has done well since he arrived and is working well. We know each other from years ago, so I know what he can give us, and he knows what we can give to him to help him improve to become a better player.
“Hopefully, in terms of the No.9, he can score goals for us.”
Club World Cup 2025: Fixtures and schedule
18:30 , Chris WilsonThe Club World Cup is underway. Here’s every fixture and the full schedule:
Club World Cup 2025: How to watch every match on TV and online
Why Club World Cup could be transformative for a new Chelsea
18:15 , Richard JollyThomas Tuchel was musing about the knock-on effect of the Club World Cup on next season’s title race. “I think it will have a huge impact and it will give Liverpool and Arsenal a huge advantage in the next season to not be there,” he said.
What Tuchel did not mention is that Chelsea, disadvantaged as a result, qualified for the Club World Cup because of him. It feels a very different era given that Enzo Maresca is the fifth man to manage them since – Graham Potter, Bruno Saltor, Frank Lampard and Mauricio Pochettino are the others – and that Reece James is the only player to take the field in Tuchel’s 2021 Champions League final victory who is in the squad they have taken to the United States.
Why Club World Cup could be transformative for a new Chelsea
Six young players set to light up Club World Cup 2025
18:00 , Zach LowyThe Fifa Club World Cup is underway, launching a jam-packed month of action in the United States that will see 32 of the best club sides in world football vie for international glory.
Several veteran footballers like Lionel Messi will attempt to add to their legacy by winning the ultimate prize in New Jersey, whilst other promising youngsters will be looking to announce themselves on the international stage.
A handful of fine performances may also convince clubs to table bids once the transfer window reopens too.
Here’s a look at six young prospects to keep an eye on in the Club World Cup over the coming weeks:
Chelsea vs LAFC
17:26 , Harry Latham-CoyleThe Club World Cup continues with Chelsea facing LAFC in Atlanta. Kick off is at 8pm BST for the Group D fixture.
