Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Alex Young

Chelsea XI vs LAFC: Confirmed team news, predicted lineup, injury latest for Club World Cup

Chelsea take on LAFC at the Club World Cup - (ES Composite)

Chelsea get their Club World Cup campaign underway against LAFC on Monday.

The Blues got straight down to work in Philadelphia on Saturday as Enzo Maresca oversaw their first session since they touched down in America.

New signings Liam Delap, Mamadou Sarr, Dario Essugo, and Mike Penders were all involved in the session.

Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez, Andrey Santos and Aaron Anselmino also trained after joining up with the squad following international duty in South America.

(Chelsea FC via Getty Images)

Enzo Maresca has already made some tough decisions for his squad ahead the tournament, leaving out all players who spent time out of loan during the season, apart from Andrey Santos, despite opting against taking the maximum 35 players allowed.

There will also be a chance for debuts for new signings Delap, Essugo, Sarr and young goalkeeper Penders, but Maresca should go fairly strong for this opening game.

Robert Sanchez remains the first-choice goalkeeper despite a concerted effort to sign Mike Maignan, and should get the nod behind a strong back line.

Caicedo and Fernandez will surely start the opener, with the first-choice front four of Pedro Neto, Cole Palmer, Noni Madueke and Nicolas Jackson looking to get Chelsea off to a strong start.

Chelsea will be wary not to underestimate a LAFC team boasting the likes of familiar face Oliver Giroud.

The Blues then face Flamengo on Friday before an easier-looking test against ES Tunis on June 25.

Chelsea predicted XI: Sanchez; Gusto, Chalobah, Badiashile, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Neto, Palmer, Madueke; Jackson

Time and date: 8pm BST on Monday, June 16 2025

Venue: Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia

TV channel and free live stream: Channel 5 (UK) and DAZN (worldwide)

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.