Two cup winners collide in Group D of the 2025 Club World Cup on Monday, as Chelsea and Los Angeles FC open their campaigns at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
Despite plenty of friendly games stretching back to 1954, this is Chelsea’s first competitive fixture against a team from the USA. The maiden battle pits the Conference League champions against the US Open Cup holders, who had to take a unique scenic route to enter the home tournament.
Monday, June 16 | 12 p.m. PT
Mercedes-Benz Stadium - Atlanta, GA
Click here to watch the match LIVE now! 🔴 ▶️
Chelsea – the Club World Cup history
This is Chelsea’s third appearance in the FIFA Club World Cup since 2000. Of the UEFA participants in this expanded tournament only Real Madrid (six) have featured in more.
In December 2012, the Blues, champions of Europe for the first time, comfortably saw off Monterrey 3-1 in Yokohama, Juan Mata drawing first blood. Spain compatriot Fernando Torres doubled the lead and an own goal put the outcome beyond doubt, the Mexicans’ barely warranting their late consolation.
The final against Copa Libertadores champions Corinthians was a different story. Rafael Benitez’s sluggish side missed a host of chances and the Brazilians’ winner was something of a fluke. When Gary Cahill was dismissed for kicking out, the Blues’ quest to ‘rule the world’ was over.
In early 2022 our all-time leading scorer in this competition, Romelu Lukaku, netted the only goal in the last four clash with Saudi side Al Hilal in the United Arab Emirates.
In the final, Lukaku’s unstoppable header put the Londoners ahead against Palmeiras of Brazil but Raphael Veiga levelled from the spot after a handball. Thankfully, Kai Havertz converted a second penalty to secure a 2-1 victory. The Blues were world champions for the first time and had ‘won it all’.
About LAFC
The only MLS team that will not play a home match in the group stage, LAFC earned its Club World Cup berth by defeating Club América 2-1 in the FIFA Club World Cup Play-in match in Los Angeles on May 31. (Inter Miami will play two group-stage matches in South Florida. All three of the Seattle Sounders’ group-stage matches will be played in Seattle.)
Unbeaten in 10 straight games in all competitions (5W-0L-5D), LAFC is led by forward Denis Bouanga, whose 48 league goals since the beginning of the 2023 season are five more than any other MLS player in that span (Christian Benteke, 43). Bouanga has continued to present danger this season; he currently ranks second in MLS with 36 shots on target (Hany Mukhtar, 38). Bouanga’s matchwinning goal in the 115th minute against América marked the sixth time he has scored in the 90th minute or later since he joined LAFC in August 2022.
At the opposite end of the pitch, goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, a veteran of 70 UEFA Champions League matches with Lyon and Tottenham, has posted five clean sheets in 15 MLS starts this season.
Defensive midfielder Igor Jesus is the linchpin of an LAFC midfield trio (with Mark Delgado and Timmy Tillman) that blends youth with experience and steadiness with speed. The 22-year-old possession specialist leads LAFC midfielders in minutes played (1,237).
