Real Madrid reached the semifinals of the Club World Cup, in what was Xabi Alonso’s first tournament since taking over the job.

Real Madrid went deep in the 2025 Club World Cup, topping a group that contained Al-Hilal, Pachuca and RB Salzburg, before defeating Juventus and Borussia Dortmund in the knockout rounds.

They ultimately fell to PSG in the semifinals, but all in all it was an impressive debut tournament for new coach Xabi Alonso. Now, as the dust settles, let’s take a look at five things we learned from Los Blancos’ performances.

XABI ALONSO NOT AFRAID TO MIX IT UP

It was rare for Real Madrid to move away from the 4-3-3 under Carlo Ancelotti, but now fans can expect a lot more tactical variation under Xabi Alonso. The Spanish tactician said it himself, “We don't have a fixed system that I obsess over and refuse to change, as we must always be dynamic and flexible, able to adapt to different situations.”

His actions backed up his words, as the Spanish side used several different formations during the tournament in the United States, some with a back three and some with a back four.

TCHOUAMENI COULD BE THE PILLAR OF HIS TEAM

Whatever the formation, it seems likely that Aurélien Tchouaméni will have an important role in the middle of the park. The Frenchman played all but five minutes of Real Madrid’s games in the Club World Cup, and received a lot of praise from his new coach. 

Able to drop deep into the back line at times and able to join the attack as well, Tchouaméni covered a lot of ground and seems poised to have a strong season.

 

PSG 🆚 Real Madrid#FIFACWC pic.twitter.com/95R6DtGxG0

— Fifa Club World Cup (@FIFACWC) July 10, 2025

 

FULL-BACKS MORE INVOLVED IN ATTACK

Last season, Real Madrid’s starting right-back and left-back entering the season were Dani Carvajal and Ferland Mendy, both defence-first full-backs. With the arrival of Trent Alexander-Arnold and with Fran García playing every minute at the Club World Cup, it seems Los Blancos will be getting a lot more offensive output from their full-backs in 2025/26.

It’s not just a matter of personnel, as the style of play has changed too to involve the full-backs in the final third much more, especially with overlapping runs towards the byline.

PROMISING NEW SIGNING

Real Madrid fans were excited to see how new signings Dean Huijsen and Trent Alexander-Arnold would do in this tournament, and both played very well at different points. In fact, it is telling that the team’s defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the semifinals came with the Spain and England internationals both unavailable, due to suspension and injury respectively.

When the new season begins, both these summer signings can expect to be heavily involved, having already impressed in the United States.

GARCIA HAS A ROLE TO PLAY

One of the breakout stars of the tournament was Real Madrid centre-forward Gonzalo García, who scored four goals in six appearances, earning the competition’s golden boot. The 21-year-old had only made six appearances for the first team before this tournament in the United States, but doubled his appearance tally under Xabi Alonso.

The new coach even compared the young striker to Raúl, praising his positioning and work ethic. We can expect to see Gonzalo earning minutes during the 2025/26 campaign.

For Chelsea, victory in Sunday's Club World Cup decider completed a fine first season under Enzo Maresca, and also finally brought the curtain down on a marathon campaign that they must hope does not catch up with them down the line.

The Cole Palmer-inspired 3-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain at the MetLife Stadium outside New York was Chelsea's 64th game of a season which lasted 11 months.

By any measure it was one of Chelsea's best ever campaigns, with their Club World Cup triumph – placed on a par by Maresca to winning the Champions League – following victory in the Uefa Conference League and a fourth-placed finish in the Premier League.

Maresca, an ex-assistant to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, could not have asked for much more after arriving off the back of leading Leicester City to promotion.

"It has been a fantastic season but I am especially happy for the players," said the Italian, who has succeeded in putting together a coherent team out of the endless line of new signings being brought in by the club's owners.

"We have said many times that talent alone is not enough. You need to find a way for them to all fit together."

It all represents considerable progress from just two years ago, when the Stamford Bridge side finished in the bottom half of the Premier League.

Maresca incorporated more new faces during the Club World Cup, with Joao Pedro making a remarkable impact – the Brazilian forward cut short a holiday to complete a £60 million ($79 million) transfer from Brighton and Hove Albion, and went on to score twice in the semifinal against Fluminense and once in the final.

Liam Delap, Dario Essugo, Mamadou Sarr and Andrey Santos all joined up ahead of the month in the United States, while Jamie Gittens has since arrived from Borussia Dortmund and fellow winger Estevao Willian now joins from Palmeiras in Brazil.

Chelsea will hope those signings, added to a squad led by the likes of Palmer, Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo, can make a real push for the Premier League title off the back of their impressive triumph at Fifa's new tournament.

"It's a big statement," captain Reece James told English media shortly after lifting the trophy alongside US President Donald Trump.

"I'm happy with how much the club has progressed and how next season you know we'll be competing in the Premier League, to win the title and compete, and to go far in the Champions League as well."

DRASTICALLY REDUCED OFF-SEASON

Chelsea have also pocketed a stunning $115 million in prize money from the Club World Cup, but what if there comes a point in 2025/26 when their exploits of this season catch up with them?

While Chelsea have been competing at the Club World Cup in draining weather conditions, Premier League champions Liverpool and runners-up Arsenal have enjoyed extended off-season breaks.

Manchester City were also at the Club World Cup but they went out over a week earlier.

Global players' union FIFPro has been the leading voices expressing concerns about the demands on the game's biggest stars in an ever-expanding calendar.

One of the safeguards it proposed in a study published before the tournament was a mandatory four-week off-season break, along with four-week retraining periods before returning to competition.

Chelsea's off-season is drastically reduced, with their first match of the next Premier League campaign against Crystal Palace slated for August 17, exactly five weeks after the Club World Cup final. They have a friendly against Bayer Leverkusen on August 8.

"Tomorrow I have three weeks of holiay which is all I want right now because I have not stopped in 15 months," said Maresca on Sunday.

It remains to be seen if Maresca and his players come back sufficiently refreshed before attacking a season in which they hope to go far in the Champions League, and which will end with the World Cup in North America.

PSG face an even tighter squeeze after a historic campaign for Luis Enrique's team, capped by their triumph in the Champions League final.

Their first competitive match of next season will be the Uefa Super Cup against Tottenham Hotspur in Italy on August 13, exactly one month after their defeat in New York – a chance to win more silverware, but at what cost?

Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca insisted winning the Club World Cup meant as much as winning the Champions League after his side beat Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 in the final of the first edition of Fifa's new competition on Sunday.

"I have the feeling that this competition is going to be as important, if not more important than, the Champions League," said Maresca after adding the trophy to the Uefa Conference League title his team won in May.

Maresca only took over at Chelsea a year ago but was previously on the coaching staff under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City when they won the Champions League in 2023.

"I was lucky to be on the coaching staff of a team that won the Champions League a few years ago, but this competition features the best teams in the world, and I think we can value it on the same level," said the Italian.

"It is a great triumph for us and it will allow the Chelsea fans to have that on our shirt for the next four years, so it is a source of pride."

Maresca said he instructed his players to go out and take the game to PSG from the off – they went on to net all three goals in the first half, with Cole Palmer netting a brace before Joao Pedro added his name to the scoresheet.

"The message was to let them understand that we were here to win the game and I think in the first 10 minutes we showed them that," Maresca said.

"That set the tone of the game, and then the quality of the players was also important."

England international Palmer was named player of the match after bagging a brace and setting up Joao Pedro's goal.

The 23-year-old, therefore, lived up to his superstar billing – his face has appeared on billboards around New York advertising the tournament, alongside the likes of Real Madrid duo Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior.

"To score the goals was a great feeling, as was the way the team showed fire out there – the gaffer's game plan was spot on," he said.

"I just try to do my job every time I go onto the pitch, and hopefully I will continue.

"I have seen the billboards in Times Square and outside Madison Square Garden, and it is obviously a nice feeling to be alongside those players," he added.

Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique said he was "just trying to separate the players" after being caught up in a scuffle on the pitch at the end of his team's 3-0 defeat to Chelsea in the Club World Cup final on Sunday.

Television footage showed the PSG boss raising his arm to the neck of Joao Pedro, who had earlier scored Chelsea's third goal following a Cole Palmer brace at the MetLife Stadium.

"There was pushing and shoving, a lot of tension and pressure. The situation obviously should have been avoided," Luis Enrique told reporters.

"My intention was clearly to just try to separate the players."

He admitted that Chelsea were deserved winners as he urged his team to enjoy a short summer break at the end of a remarkable campaign.

Defeat for PSG denied them what would have been a stunning clean sweep of trophies as they failed to add the Club World Cup to the Uefa Champions League and French league and cup double they claimed in May.

"I think over the course of the game, they deserved their win. They played very well," Luis Enrique said.

"I said beforehand that Chelsea were a very good team and they deserve their victory and the trophy."

A historic season for PSG ends after 11 months and 65 matches, and they now have exactly one month before returning to action in August – there will be another trophy on the line in their next game, against Tottenham Hotspur in the Uefa Super Cup.

"I think it is important for us to enjoy our holidays. They will be very short. But we need to make the most of them," he said.

PSG's victory in this year's Champions League also means they will have another crack at winning the Club World Cup when they participate in the next edition, which is due to take place in 2029.

"I think this tournament was born out of the need to know who the best team in the world is. I think it is an interesting format and I think it could become a real top-level competition," said the Spaniard.

"There is just the difficulty of finding space for it in the current calendar, but I think it is an interesting tournament – we had the chance to win it, but there was another team who were better than us in the final."

"Ice-Cole" Palmer lived up to his nickname in a scorching Club World Cup final on Sunday, scoring twice in Chelsea's 3-0 win over Paris St Germain on another broiling day at MetLife Stadium.

Temperatures soared above 85 degrees Fahrenheit in East Rutherford, New Jersey, but the Chelsea talisman had ice in his veins as he bagged two goals in eight minutes in the first half.

He earned the Golden Ball as the best player of the tournament.

The man of the match in their 4-1 Conference League final win over Real Betis in May, Palmer showed again that he does his best work under the biggest spotlight, as he also recorded an assist for Joao Pedro in the 43rd minute.

Golden Ball winner. 🏆 pic.twitter.com/qNrnOvLCx6

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) July 13, 2025

"I like finals. It's happened again," he told DAZN.

"It's a great feeling," he added. "Even better because everyone doubted us before the game, we knew that. To put a fight on like we did, it's good."

A product of the Manchester City academy, Palmer made his senior debut with the team in September 2020 but never received the minutes on the pitch he believed he deserved, going to Chelsea three years later with the promise of more playing time.

He wasted no time becoming Chelsea's new hero, firing in goals in his first season with the club, and Sunday's final marked another chapter in his success story, with Man City long ago eliminated from the tournament in the round of 16.

👑 pic.twitter.com/5Y42HW6C2h

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) July 13, 2025

He destroyed PSG's defence in a sensational first half on Sunday, running up and down the right channel before slotting in a tidy left-footed goal in 22nd minute.

He doubled the score eight minutes later, again targeting the bottom-left corner of the goal as the legions of blue-clad Chelsea fans erupted in elation.

European and French champions PSG were coming off an extraordinary season but appeared overwhelmed yet again as Palmer set up Pedro with a neat flick with two minutes left in the first half.

"Today we found a position for him where there was more space to attack," said Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca. "Obviously Cole played really well but the effort from all the players was fantastic."

Cole Palmer scored two goals and made another as Chelsea stunned Paris Saint-Germain in the final of the Club World Cup on Sunday, beating the European champions 3-0 at the MetLife Stadium to win the first edition of Fifa's new competition.

PSG were the favourites for a game attended by Donald Trump after coming to the United States fresh from winning the Uefa Champions League and having destroyed Real Madrid 4-0 in the semifinals.

But having been three goals ahead midway through the first half in the semis, this time the roles were reversed as PSG found themselves 3-0 down by the break.

𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐒𝐄𝐀 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐅𝐈𝐅𝐀 𝐂𝐋𝐔𝐁 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐋𝐃 𝐂𝐔𝐏 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐌𝐏𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 🏆🔵#FIFACWC | #CWC2025 | #SSFootball pic.twitter.com/3PznMtyHf3

— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) July 13, 2025

Palmer opened the scoring midway through the first half and struck again to make it two on the half-hour mark, before taking advantage of passive defending to set up Joao Pedro for the third on 43 minutes.

A double Cole Palmer with a side of João Pedro 😮‍💨🧊

📺 Stream #CWC2025 on DStv: https://t.co/B0jLrQW5cc pic.twitter.com/JrwLXsllzA

— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) July 13, 2025

A bad day for PSG was summed up when Joao Neves was shown red following a VAR review four minutes from the end for pulling Marc Cucurella by the hair off the ball.

It was a scoreline that few could have predicted as Chelsea capped what has been a long but memorable season – they are the first ever winners of the 32-team Club World Cup having also won the Uefa Conference League and finished fourth in the Premier League.

They will also take away around $125 million in prize money, meaning the prospect of a drastically curtailed summer break before returning for next season will surely feel worth it.

Donald Trump stayed with the team for the trophy lifting after handing the trophy.

Trump is Chels 😂 pic.twitter.com/cRrKahh1Vw

— Just Chelsea (@Just_chelseafc) July 13, 2025

For PSG, meanwhile, the financial rewards are similar but there will be genuine disappointment at falling short of adding this title to their Champions League triumph and French league and cup double.

Nevertheless, conquering Europe was always the main aim this season for Luis Enrique's team, who now have exactly a month to digest this and take a holiday before returning to action in the Uefa Super Cup against Tottenham Hotspur.

TRUMP IN ATTENDANCE

There was a real sense of occasion at the MetLife Stadium, with the backdrop of the Manhattan skyline and with President Trump in attendance along with First Lady Melania Trump in a crowd of 81 118.

.@POTUS and @FLOTUS arrive at MetLife Stadium for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup ⚽️🏆 pic.twitter.com/gkb1T2g70H

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) July 13, 2025

There was even the first-ever halftime show at a Fifa tournament, adding a Super Bowl feel to a final played at the home of NFL sides the New York Giants and New York Jets.

As for the football, for the second time in six weeks PSG found themselves involved in a final that quickly turned into a one-sided affair.

The club claimed a historic 5-0 win over Inter Milan in the Champions League final, but here they were ripped apart by Chelsea on another hot afternoon.

Palmer almost put Chelsea ahead inside the opening 10 minutes, before PSG should have scored at the other end only for Desire Doue to try to pass to Achraf Hakimi rather than shoot inside the box, allowing Cucurella to block.

It was Chelsea who struck in the 22nd minute as Malo Gusto got the better of Nuno Mendes down the right before seeing his shot blocked by Lucas Beraldo. The ball came back to Gusto and he teed up Palmer to finish into the bottom-left corner.

Palmer has been the face of Chelsea on billboards in the United States during the tournament and he lived up to his star billing by scoring again on the half-hour.

Two goals to the good. 😁 pic.twitter.com/5aqfxJqjkL

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) July 13, 2025

Released on the right with PSG left-back Mendes out of position, Palmer advanced towards the box before stroking a low shot into the same corner.

Joao Pedro played a part in the build-up to that goal and the Brazilian, signed during the tournament from Brighton, then got his name on the scoresheet to make it 3-0.

Scorer of both goals against Fluminense in the semifinals, he clipped a shot past Gianluigi Donnarumma after being supplied by Palmer.

Three goals in two games! 🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/nsRXxnt7G8

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) July 13, 2025

PSG had conceded a single goal in their previous eight matches and they never really looked like producing a comeback, even if Neves headed just wide in first-half stoppage time.

Substitute Liam Delap almost got a fourth for Chelsea midway through the second half, before Neves was shown red to complete a bad day for PSG.

𝐁𝐋𝐔𝐄 𝐈𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐎𝐋𝐎𝐔𝐑 🏆🔵

Scenes at the MetLife Stadium 🥹#FIFACWC | #CWC2025 | #SSFootball pic.twitter.com/ItBaRIzqgz

— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) July 13, 2025

The first edition of the expanded Club World Cup wraps up this weekend with FIFA president Gianni Infantino already hailing it as a huge success while the world of football faces up to the idea that an imperfect tournament is here to stay.

Infantino's flagship competition – initially supposed to be launched in 2021 before the pandemic intervened – was derided by many, especially in Europe, before it kicked off.

It was seen as an unnecessary addition to a crowded calendar, while there were also doubts as to whether it would win over the public.

Even after it began former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp dismissed the competition as the "worst idea ever implemented in football".

However, the last month in the United States has shown that such a viewpoint is surely an exaggeration.

FIFA has earned criticism for the number of empty seats at many matches, but fans have turned out, with around 2.5 million attending games across the country.

South American supporters in particular helped create vibrant and colourful atmospheres, and the average crowd of almost 39 000 before Sunday's final between Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea was just below that of the English Premier League last season.

"The decisive factor is if the fans like it or not, and the attendances were much higher than expected," insisted Arsene Wenger, FIFA's Chief of Global Football Development.

"I don't share the opinion of Jurgen Klopp at all because I feel a real Club World Cup is needed and if you ask all the clubs who were here at this competition I am sure all of them would want to do it again."

What they would prefer not to have to deal with again is the kind of temperatures that come with playing during the afternoon in a North American summer.

Many matches were impacted by the heat and several faced long delays due to thunderstorm warnings.

That looks set to cause major headaches for FIFA at the World Cup in North America next year.

"Playing in these temperatures is very dangerous, and obviously for the spectacle... the pace of play is not the same, it slows everything down," complained Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez.

That can be looked at for future tournaments, but it will surely be harder for FIFA to do anything about the dominance of Europe's leading clubs.

Europe provided both finalists but did not have things all its own way, with Fluminense of Brazil flying the flag for the rest of the world.

They knocked out Inter Milan en route to reaching the semifinals, while fellow Brazilians Palmeiras got to the last eight along with Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal.

COULD IT BE EXPANDED FURTHER?

The majority of the tournament's huge $1 billion prize fund still went to European teams, but the money distributed to competing clubs from around the world could give them a better chance of keeping their best players for longer.

Infantino accepts that his tournament would be a greater draw if more of Europe's biggest names were involved but insists it will remain open to clubs from around the globe – even if that means mismatches like Auckland City losing 10-0 to Bayern Munich.

"Auckland represents to some extent 99.9 per cent of all players, who would like to be like them but will never have the chance – there must be a place for everyone," he said.

"Of course I would have liked to have Liverpool here, Arsenal, Manchester United, Barcelona, Tottenham, AC Milan, Napoli... but you have to qualify."

Adding more games – up to seven for the finalists – to an already crowded calendar is problematic.

Nevertheless, the determination of PSG to go all the way following their Champions League triumph, or Manchester City's disappointment when they went out, suggests that they were fully invested.

"We are very used to not having holidays unfortunately because the schedule is crazy," City's Bernardo Silva said after his team's quarterfinal exit.

"But when we are in a competition we take it very seriously and we had a lot of ambition for this Club World Cup."

And there will be another Club World Cup, even if Infantino has so far played down suggestions the tournament could be immediately expanded further, and staged more often.

"It will happen every four years, it is planned, and the next edition is in 2029," said Wenger.

The curtain comes down on the first edition of FIFA's expanded Club World Cup when reigning European champions Paris Saint-Germain face Chelsea in Sunday's final at the MetLife Stadium, with Donald Trump among those set to be in attendance.

It is the kind of glamour match-up that FIFA president Gianni Infantino would have been hoping for to wrap up the tournament, which on Saturday he labelled as marking the start of "the golden era of club football".

Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca acknowledged ahead of the game that PSG are "probably in this moment the best team in the world", and the French side are hoping to cap off the most remarkable of seasons by completing a stunning clean sweep of trophies.

PSG won a French league and cup double before claiming the Uefa Champions League for the first time in their history with a record-breaking 5-0 victory over Inter Milan in the final at the end of May.

Luis Enrique's side have carried that form over into the Club World Cup, putting four goals past Atletico Madrid in the group stage and four more past Lionel Messi's Inter Miami before defeating Bayern Munich in the quarterfinals.

They then produced a masterclass in a 4-0 thrashing of Real Madrid in the semifinals on Wednesday.

"It has been a fantastic season and for us it is very important that we end it in the best possible manner," Luis Enrique said as he spoke to reporters on Friday.

It would be a shock if Chelsea claimed the trophy against a PSG side led by Ballon d'Or candidate Ousmane Dembele.

However, the Stamford Bridge side came to the United States fresh from finishing fourth in the Premier League and winning the Uefa Conference League.

"They are one of the hottest teams in the world at the moment but this is the final, a one-off game," said Chelsea's Reece James.

"Everyone has them down as strong favourites but I have been in many finals before where we have been favourites and we have not come out on top.

"That doesn't mean too much to me and I don't really care that everyone is bigging up the opposition."

Chelsea were hoping that midfield lynchpin Moises Caicedo would recover in time from a twisted ankle picked up in the semifinal victory over Fluminense on Tuesday.

HEAT AND HUGE PRIZE MONEY

The match will be played at the 82 500-capacity MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, with the Manhattan skyline as a backdrop. The home of NFL sides the New York Giants and New York Jets will also be the venue for the 2026 World Cup final.

It goes ahead at 3pm local time (9pm GMT+2) amid ongoing concerns about the impact of high temperatures during the tournament, with Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez warning on Friday that playing in the middle of the afternoon was "very dangerous".

There are also concerns about the long-term impact on players of the match calendar – the final will be the 65th game for PSG since their season began last August, and the 64th for Chelsea.

However, the financial rewards for all teams involved at the Club World Cup are enormous, and especially for the finalists.

Chelsea and PSG are assured to go home with over $100 million in prize money, with the definitive amount to become clear after the final – that money will be particularly welcome for Chelsea after they were recently fined by Uefa for breaching financial rules.

Infantino, meanwhile, was in buoyant mood as he spoke to media at Trump Tower in New York City on Saturday.

"We created something new, something which is here to stay, something which is changing the landscape of club football," he said of the 32-team tournament, the next edition of which is set to take place in 2029.

"It is already the most successful club competition in the world."

Six weeks removed from their first Uefa Champions League title, Paris Saint-Germain have been the indisputable best team at the Fifa Club World Cup.

Chelsea are a more familiar sight on the international stage, and they've had a strong tournament themselves, but they will be the underdogs when they go toe to toe with PSG in the Club World Cup final on Sunday.

Riding high off their 5-0 Champions League final victory over Inter Milan, which completed a continental treble, PSG have torn through the Club World Cup with 16 goals scored and only one conceded. Their knockout-stage victories over Inter Miami, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid came by a combined 10-0.

"For sure, they are the top team in Europe, in the world, probably in this moment the best team in the world," Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca said in the pre-match press conference. "But I think that every game is different, every game can be different and we're going to try our best to do a good game."

PSG have played a tremendous possession game during the tournament and lead all teams in turnovers forced (272). Defender Achraf Hakimi has forced a CWC-high 44, and the Parisians were quick to convert Real Madrid giveaways into three goals in the first 24 minutes of Wednesday's semifinal.

If there's any team that can stay patient in the face of that style of play, it may be Chelsea, led by the midfield duo of Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo. Fernandez leads all players in the Club World Cup with three assists, and he's helped coordinate a balanced attack in which 10 different players have scored at least one goal.

"They are up there with the best midfielders in the world. I think that will be clear on Sunday," Chelsea captain Reece James said of his teammates.

Caicedo is less than 100 per cent healthy and Maresca hopes he can play Sunday, as he took part in training but not fully.

Chelsea, who won this tournament in 2021, made it to the final by defeating Benfica 4-1, Palmeiras 2-1 and Fluminense 2-0. PSG coach Luis Enrique praised Maresca and Chelsea's playing style at his pre-match press conference.

"This is elite competition and if you think this game is just going to be a walk in the park, that's because you don't really know what Chelsea are about," Enrique said. "They just won the Conference League, they are growing, they have really good players, and Mr. Maresca is doing such a great job."

Fabian Ruiz (three), Ousmane Dembele (two), Joao Neves (two) and Hakimi (two) have guided PSG on the scoring front.

Fifa president Gianni Infantino triumphantly declared the Club World Cup to be "the most successful club competition in the world" on Saturday ahead of this weekend's final between Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea.

The first 32-team edition of the tournament faced criticism in the build-up for stretching demands on elite players and has been played out in baking temperatures in the United States that have raised concerns for the health of those involved.

There were also doubts about the level of interest the competition would generate among fans but Infantino said he was satisfied with the attendances at matches – despite many games being far from sold out – and claimed it had been a major success financially.

"The golden age of club football has started. We can definitely say this Fifa Club World Cup has been a huge success," Infantino told reporters at Trump Tower on New York City's Fifth Avenue, where Fifa has just opened an office.

"We heard that financially it would not work, that nobody is interested, but I can say we generated almost $2.1 billion in revenues, for 63 matches," he said.

"That makes an average of $33 million per match – no other club competition in the world comes close.

"It is already the most successful club competition in the world."

Former Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp has been one of the leading voices against the tournament, calling it "the worst idea ever implemented in football" in a recent interview.

But the head of world football's governing body dismissed suggestions that Klopp might be speaking for most observers in Europe.

"We shouldn't say that the opinion of Europe on this is very bad because it is not true," said Infantino, who was appearing on a stage alongside numerous footballing greats including the Brazilian Ronaldo.

"All the teams who have come here have been happy – some teams who didn't come here because they didn't qualify were calling us to see how they could qualify.

"Of course I would have liked to have Liverpool here, Arsenal, Manchester United, Barcelona, Tottenham, AC Milan, Napoli... but you have to qualify and there are different criteria."

The next Club World Cup is due to take place in 2029, with Infantino refusing to commit when asked whether the tournament could be played every two years or be expanded to feature more teams.

"We created something new, something which is here to stay, something which is changing the landscape of club football," he added.

Paris will be under tight police surveillance on Sunday and Monday for a key football match for local champions PSG, and France's national holiday, with both events potentially creating public disturbances, police said.

Some 11 500 officers will be deployed in the French capital and surrounding areas for the Fifa Club World Cup final between English side Chelsea and French champions Paris Saint-Germain, which coincides with festivities on the eve of France's national holiday on Monday, known as Bastille Day, that can degenerate into violence.

No crowd gatherings will be allowed on the Champs-Elysees, the prestigious Paris thoroughfare that has often been the scene of violence on such occasions.

Although the Club World Cup final is played in the United States, PSG fans will be out in numbers in the streets of Paris.

When the club won the Champions League final on 31 May, several violent incidents in France led to around 200 arrests and 20 police injuries.

On the Champs-Elysees that night, store windows were smashed and shops looted.

"For now we are not aware of any risks, but we nevertheless always prepare for public disturbances," Paris police chief Laurent Nunez told the BFMTV broadcaster on Saturday.

The police deployment in Paris and suburbs would be "very dense", he said.

"We will act with great firmness," Nunez warned, adding he had given the order for any gathering on the Champs-Elysees Sunday evening to be dispersed.

No fan zones or pavement TV screens would be allowed between Sunday evening and the small hours of Monday.

The avenue will on Monday be the scene of the traditional 14 July military parade, for which police will put in place points for body and bag checks for guests.

The event is followed Monday evening by a classical concert near the Eiffel Tower, and traditional Bastille Day fireworks lasting 20 minutes, for which a crowd of 60 000 is expected.

Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez said the scorching heat at the Club World Cup in the United States left him feeling dizzy and described the high temperatures as "dangerous" to play in.

The inaugural 32-team Club World Cup, which concludes on Sunday with Chelsea facing Paris Saint-Germain in the final at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, has delivered a spectacle on the pitch but concerns over player welfare and lukewarm attendances in the U.S. have sparked a debate.

Tuesday's semi-final between Chelsea and Fluminense which took place at 3 p.m. local time in New Jersey saw temperatures soar past 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit) with over 54% humidity, prompting a National Weather Service warning.

Soaring temperatures in several cities hosting the Club World Cup have been a focal point in the tournament, which is seen as a dry run for next year's men's World Cup.

"Honestly, the heat is incredible. The other day I had to lie down on the ground because I was really dizzy," Fernandez told reporters on Friday.

"Playing in this temperature is very dangerous, it's very dangerous. Moreover, for the spectacle, for the people who come to enjoy the stadium, for the people who watch it at home.

"The game, the speed of the game is not the same, everything becomes very slow.

"Well, let's hope that next year they change the schedule, at least so that it remains a beautiful and attractive football spectacle, right?" the 2022 World Cup winner with Argentina added.

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has also previously complained about the heat, saying it was "impossible" to organise regular training sessions in the afternoons in Philadelphia.

"Some places have been really hot, the last round was hot and I was stuck watching it and I was thinking: 'wow, this is so tough.' I felt bad for them but they managed it really well," Chelsea centre back Levi Colwill said.

Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique on Friday urged his team to round off the best season in the club's history by winning the Club World Cup but warned not to expect Sunday's final against Chelsea to be a "simple formality".

"This is absolutely not going to be a simple formality," the Spanish coach insisted, refusing to accept that PSG are necessarily overwhelming favourites to lift the trophy at MetLife Stadium despite their fearsome form.

"I have analysed Chelsea. They have a great squad. Enzo Maresca is doing a great job and I really like what he is doing," Luis Enrique said. "They are a very complete team."

PSG can complete a remarkable clean sweep of trophies with victory, having won a French league and cup double before claiming the Uefa Champions League for the first time in their history at the end of May.

"We want to finish this historic season in the best possible way," said the former Barcelona coach.

"Now we must open the next chapter, win more major trophies. We want to make more history by winning on Sunday."

PSG were spellbinding at times in their 4-0 victory against Real Madrid in the semi-finals and also put four goals past Atletico Madrid and Lionel Messi's Inter Miami during the competition.

"But we have to win this game to round things off. However, in a final there is always a winner and a loser, and that doesn't mean the loser has necessarily done anything wrong," Luis Enrique added.

"We will lose again at some point, because that is what happens in top-level football, but I think the path is clear for everyone."

This is the first edition of the 32-team Club World Cup, and whoever wins on Sunday will be world champions for four years, with the next tournament scheduled to take place in 2029.

"We are aware of the importance of this match, that it is a golden opportunity to be in a World Cup final," said captain Marquinhos.

"This only happens every four years, and we don't know where we will be in four years."

Chelsea star Enzo Fernandez warned on Friday that playing games at the hottest time of the day during the Club World Cup is "very dangerous" as his side prepare to take on Paris Saint-Germain in the final on Sunday afternoon.

"The heat is incredible. The other day I was feeling a bit dizzy and I had to sit down on the ground," Argentinian playmaker Fernandez told reporters on Friday.

Sunday's Club World Cup final at the MetLife Stadium just outside New York between Chelsea and PSG will kick off at 3pm local time (7pm GMT). Temperatures then are forecast to be as high as 31 degrees Celsius.

Chelsea kicked off at the same time in their 2-0 semifinal win over Brazilian side Fluminense on Tuesday, and the heat has had an impact on numerous games throughout the competition.

That has led to concerns about scheduling during the World Cup set to take place across North America next year.

"Playing in these temperatures is very dangerous," said Fernandez, who was speaking before Chelsea trained at the Sports Illustrated Stadium in New Jersey, home of MLS side New York Red Bulls.

"Obviously for the spectacle, for people who come to the stadium to enjoy it, and for those watching at home, the pace of play is not the same, it slows everything down.

"Let's hope they change the kick-off times to make it a better spectacle," Fernandez, a World Cup winner with Argentina in 2022, added with an eye on the 2026 tournament.

Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca admitted on Friday that Club World Cup final opponents Paris Saint-Germain are the best team in the world right now, but is hopeful that his side can finish off a successful season by winning the first edition of Fifa's expanded competition.

"For sure they are a top team in Europe and probably in this moment the best team in the world," Maresca told reporters at the MetLife Stadium, where Sunday's final will take place.

"But I think every game can be different. We have maximum respect for them. I really enjoy watching them but at the same time we are here to do our best and try to win the final."

Chelsea have eliminated Benfica as well as Brazilian duo Palmeiras and Fluminense in the knockout rounds to reach the final at the end of a marathon campaign.

Maresca, who arrived from Leicester City last year, has already led the Stamford Bridge side to a fourth-place finish in the Premier League which brings with it qualification for next season's Champions League.

In addition to that, they won the Uefa Conference League, and now they have a chance to win more silverware – even if they are not the favourites against European champions PSG.

"It has been a great season, and for me the biggest achievement of this season is that exactly one year ago nobody was talking about Chelsea to do with football – it was all about having a big squad and big money, that kind of thing," Maresca said.

"Now nobody is talking about this – everyone is talking about Chelsea, the way we play, the way we win games, and this personally is the biggest achievement."

The Italian added that he was optimistic pivotal midfielder Moises Caicedo would be fit for the final after coming off with an ankle injury just before the end of the semifinal against Fluminense on Tuesday.

However, Noni Madueke will not feature in the final as he stood on the verge of completing a move to Arsenal on Friday evening.

"Noni is in contact with a new club. I guess that he is going to leave in the next hours," said Maresca.

"If players want to leave, in the end it is difficult for the club and for the manager.

"No-one said to Noni he had to leave. Noni decided to leave and if he is happy, we are happy."

Paris St Germain (PSG) will face Chelsea in the final of Fifa’s revamped 32-team Club World Cup on Sunday, capping off a month-long tournament in the United States that, while sparking debates about the weather and calendar, has delivered drama akin to a nations' World Cup. Catch the action live on SuperSport.

The French and English sides, two of European football's most powerful and richest clubs, will compete for the honour of being the first champions of Fifa's expanded competition, created with the promise of revolutionising club football and as a glittering curtain-raiser for the 2026 World Cup in North America.

The final, scheduled for midday at a sweltering MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, follows a tournament filled with surprises, including shock exits for Manchester City and Inter Milan at the hands of underdogs Al Hilal and Fluminense.

PSG have been in scintillating form, winning seven of their last eight matches without conceding a single goal. Luis Enrique's side showcased their high-pressing, fast-paced, vertical style to devastating effect in a 4-0 demolition of Real Madrid in the semifinals. Two early turnovers, forced by PSG’s relentless press, led to a commanding two-goal lead within nine minutes.

The Parisians, fresh off their maiden Champions League triumph last month, are chasing their first world title. Manager Luis Enrique has revitalised the team, replacing departing stars Neymar, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe with a youthful, dynamic squad committed to his total football ethos.

Midfield orchestrator Vitinha has been pivotal, while flying fullbacks Nuno Mendes and Achraf Hakimi provide width and pace. Up front, Ballon d’Or contender Ousmane Dembele has shone, delivering crucial goals and assists.

ENRIQUE'S REMARKABLE FINALS RECORD

PSG’s defensive solidity has also been remarkable, with their high turnover rate — averaging seven per hour of play —proving instrumental throughout the competition.

Luis Enrique, who has already experienced glory leading Barcelona to a treble a decade ago, has never lost a one-off club final, winning 11 of 11.

Chelsea, meanwhile, have taken the longer road to the final, arriving in the US after winning Europe's third-tier Conference League following a sub-par domestic campaign in which they barely managed a top-four Premier League finish.

Chelsea have rallied in the tournament and the final gives manager Enzo Maresca a chance for redemption after being questioned due to struggles with a squad that cost Chelsea over 1 billion euros ($1.17 billion) in recent years.

The mid-tournament addition of Joao Pedro has proven inspired, with the Brazilian forward netting twice in their semifinal win over his childhood team Fluminense.

He has combined well with Cole Palmer in attack, while Chelsea’s midfield trio of Enzo Fernandez, Romeo Lavia and Moises Caicedo has excelled at breaking up play and exploiting spaces.

Arsene Wenger has dismissed Jurgen Klopp’s criticism of Fifa’s revamped 32-team Club World Cup, calling the tournament a "fantastic competition" and emphasising the support it has received from participating teams, players, and managers.

Klopp, the former Liverpool manager, described the expanded summer competition as "the worst idea ever invented" in an interview with German newspaper Die Welt two weeks ago. Wenger, now Fifa’s chief of global football development, countered these remarks on Thursday during a Fifa Technical Study Group (TSG) briefing in New York.

"Everyone is entitled to an opinion, and I don’t share Jurgen Klopp’s view at all," Wenger told reporters. "I feel that a Club World Cup, a real Club World Cup was needed. If you make an inquiry today with all the clubs who were here at this competition, I'm basically sure that we have 100 per cent of answers of people who want to do this again. So that's basically the best answer."

Wenger also pointed to the unexpectedly high attendance figures as evidence of the competition's success. "The decisive question is, do the fans like it? Attendance projections were low, but in reality, they were much higher. The answer is there," he added.

WORLD CUP TESTING GROUND

The tournament has provided Fifa with a testing ground ahead of the 2026 World Cup, which will take place across North America. Wenger acknowledged that the summer heat in the United States posed challenges but said Fifa has learned valuable lessons to address these issues.

"The heat in some games was a problem," Wenger admitted. "We tried to combat that with cooling breaks and watering the pitches during breaks. We learned a lot on that front."

He singled out Orlando as one of the venues where pitch conditions proved difficult, though he praised the quality of natural grass pitches overall. Philadelphia’s surface, he said, would serve as a benchmark for future competitions in the US.

Looking ahead, Wenger said Fifa is considering using covered stadiums in cities such as Atlanta, Dallas, Los Angeles, and Houston to host early matches in next year’s tournaments. He also revealed that Fifa analysts have studied the impact of heat on player performance, finding that temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit) affect high-speed running and sprints more than overall distances covered.

"Certainly next year, there will be more roofed stadiums as we have to follow the TV schedule. We are learning to be better equipped to deal with these conditions," Wenger said.

The inaugural 32-team Club World Cup concludes on Sunday, with Paris St Germain taking on Chelsea in the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

The curtain finally fell on Real Madrid midfield maestro Luka Modric's superlative career at the club after a drubbing by Paris Saint-Germain in New Jersey, but in years to come that will be forgotten.

The 39-year-old made his last appearance for the club as a substitute in the 4-0 Club World Cup semifinal defeat on Wednesday, but leaves a host of indelible memories from his time with the Spanish giants.

The Croatian confirmed in May he would leave Madrid after the tournament in the United States, and he is set to join AC Milan next season.

Modric turns 40 in September but still hopes to play for Croatia at the 2026 World Cup, and regular football is what he needs, after his minutes shrank last season under previous Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti.

The veteran midfielder won a club-record 28 trophies over 13 years in the Spanish capital, in which he conquered fans of all teams across Spain with his consistent brilliance.

"It's not the desired finish, it's a bitter end, but he will not be remembered for this game, but instead for other great ones," said new Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso after the PSG humbling.

"He is a legend both of world football and Real Madrid, he will be remembered for many more good things than the 25 minutes he played today."

Modric has been a key part of Madrid's success since arriving in 2012 from Tottenham, winning six Champions League trophies and four LaLiga titles among other silverware.

He won the Ballon d'Or in 2018, becoming the first player not named Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo to do so in over a decade.

Although Modric took the captain's armband at the start of last season, his impact was greatly reduced.

Ancelotti tried to shift Madrid to a more powerful, energetic approach in midfield, with Fede Valverde, Aurelien Tchouameni and others getting priority.

Despite Modric's fading presence, "his legacy will live on forever," said Madrid chief Florentino Perez, after he announced his impending departure.

GLORY DAYS

Modric is Real Madrid's oldest goalscorer and top flight player, but his best days came before his final season in which they finished without a major trophy.

The midfielder racked up 597 appearances, scoring 43 times and providing 95 assists.

One of those was for one of Real Madrid's most important goals of all-time – Sergio Ramos' header against Atletico Madrid in the 2014 Champions League final, as they ended their long wait for La Decima – their 10th European Cup.

Modric swung in a corner from the right in the 93rd minute in Lisbon, with Atletico leading by a goal, for Ramos to power home and force extra-time, in which Madrid secured a 4-1 triumph.

The midfielder also provided a jaw-dropping assist with the outside of his boot for Rodrygo Goes in the 2022 Champions League quarterfinal clash with Chelsea, forcing the game to extra-time.

Madrid eventually fought off the Blues and went on to lift the trophy yet again.

"Modric is a gift to football," said Ancelotti, who once jokingly reprimanded the Croatian for messing up a single pass, as the midfielder went to collect a man-of-the-match award following the 2022 Spanish Super Cup win over Barcelona.

Midway through his first season at the club, Modric was voted the worst signing of the season in LaLiga.

He departs the Spanish top flight as one of the greatest players ever to grace it, tireless in his work-rate and impeccable with the ball.

Modric's departure leaves Dani Carvajal as the sole player who was part of the 2014 Champions League final triumph, as Madrid prepare for a new era under Alonso, who was playing for the club alongside the Croatian back then.

"We are starting from scratch," said Alonso ahead of the new season, and without Modric it feels like an understatement.

Xabi Alonso is looking forward to "starting from scratch" with Real Madrid next season after being thrown in at the deep end as coach of the Spanish giants in the Club World Cup.

Alonso was given a reality check on Wednesday as Madrid were eliminated 4-0 by European champions Paris Saint-Germain in the semifinal at the MetLife Stadium.

"PSG are a team who have been built over time, whereas we are practically just beginning," Alonso said after seeing Real Madrid go two goals behind inside nine minutes.

It was 3-0 before halftime and PSG added a late fourth as they advanced to Sunday's final against Chelsea.

"We have lots of room for improvement. There are many things that we want to do better," Alonso added.

"We have to be self-critical. This will tell us things for the future that will help us to compete at a much better level than we did today."

Alonso was appointed at the end of May, taking over from Carlo Ancelotti after a successful two-and-a-half years at Bayer Leverkusen.

Real finished as runners-up to Barcelona in LaLiga and the Copa del Rey, and went out of the Champions League in the quarterfinals against Arsenal.

The Basque technician, a former Madrid player, would have preferred a full pre-season with his squad before being thrust into competitive action, and it was always going to be a big ask for them to beat PSG's well-oiled machine.

"They are at a very high level and have been since the start of the knockout phase of the Champions League," Alonso said.

"They have shown it again here and we have to accept it – we are just beginning, learning things about where we want to go and how we are going to get there."

Real eased into the knockout phase of the Club World Cup despite being held by Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia in their opening game.

They then recorded narrow wins over Juventus and Borussia Dortmund prior to Wednesday's defeat.

MODRIC BOWS OUT

Alonso demonstrated his tactical flexibility during the tournament by changing between a back-four and a three-man central defence.

Kylian Mbappe was used sparingly and sat out the group stage after being hospitalised with a stomach bug, but there were positives elsewhere.

New signings Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dean Huijsen got their first taste of action for the club, and young striker Gonzalo Garcia made a big impression with four goals in the first five matches.

Luka Modric, 39, made his farewell appearance against PSG, bringing down the curtain on a glorious 13-year spell at the club. He is now set to join AC Milan.

"This game is the last match of this season, not the start of the next one," Alonso insisted.

"We will take positives away from this. We come away from here a better team and I am convinced this will help us start next season better."

Like all the European teams who have gone deep into the Club World Cup, the turnaround into next season will be a quick one.

Alonso's LaLiga debut as Real coach is scheduled to be on Tuesday, August 19, at home to Osasuna.

Attempts to have the fixture postponed have so far been unsuccessful, meaning there are less than six weeks for the players to have a break and then embark on a full pre-season with their new coach.

Argentine starlet Franco Mastantuono, a 17-year-old attacking midfielder, will arrive from River Plate in time for the new campaign after a transfer fee of around 63 million euros ($74m) was agreed last month.

"In August the 2025/26 season begins," said Alonso.

"Things are going to be different. We are starting from scratch."

Fabian Ruiz scored twice as European champions Paris Saint-Germain turned on the style in their reunion with Kylian Mbappe on Wednesday, thrashing Real Madrid 4-0 in the semifinals of the Club World Cup to set up a final showdown with Chelsea.

Ruiz and Ousmane Dembele scored inside the opening nine minutes to stun Real and silence the majority of the 77 542 crowd who were wearing white at the MetLife Stadium outside New York.

The Spanish midfielder added another before half-time and Goncalo Ramos got a late fourth as Luis Enrique's side moved one game away from glory at Fifa's new tournament.

PSG blow Real Madrid away 🔵🔴#SSFootball | #FIFACWC | #CWC2025 pic.twitter.com/hAMuUYUNqq

— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) July 9, 2025

Victory against Chelsea on Sunday would complete a campaign of unparalleled success for the Parisians, who won the French title and then the first Uefa Champions League in their history in May.

After blowing away Inter Milan 5-0, the biggest victory in European Cup final history, PSG began their Club World Cup bid by putting four past Atletico Madrid and the ease with which they disposed of Real here was striking.

PSG's fluidity contrasted starkly with Madrid, who are a work in progress under new coach Xabi Alonso.

Meanwhile Mbappe struggled to make any impact on his first start at the tournament and in his first game against PSG since leaving the French club a year ago.

The France captain was hoping for a different outcome against the team for whom he scored a club record 256 goals, and the defeat is a real blow to Real as they hoped to win the first 32-team Club World Cup to add to their record tally of 15 European Cups.

But PSG have improved without Mbappe and are now such a well-oiled machine that they appear unstoppable -- it would be a big surprise if they failed to beat Chelsea.

Luis Enrique was without imposing centre-back Willian Pacho due to suspension following his sending-off against Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals, but that did not matter.

Lucas Beraldo slotted into the defence with ease, and the rest of PSG's first-choice line-up was there.

DAY TO FORGET FOR MBAPPE

Real were missing central defender Dean Huijsen through suspension, while the absence of Trent Alexander-Arnold was an added blow.

The return to the starting XI of Mbappe, who missed the entire group stage through illness, did not prevent young striker Gonzalo Garcia from keeping his place.

But the Spanish giants' front line, completed by Vinicius Junior, made no real impact, such was the extent of PSG's domination.

Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois made two superb saves inside the opening five minutes, the first to tip away a Ruiz shot, and the second to deny Nuno Mendes from point-blank range.

Yet Courtois could not prevent Paris from scoring in the sixth minute, as Dembele pounced on slack defending by Raul Asencio.

The Real 'keeper saved at the forward's feet but Ruiz converted the loose ball.

Three minutes later and the contest was effectively over when Antonio Rudiger failed to control a simple pass from Jude Bellingham, allowing Dembele to run through before finishing low into the corner.

Like his friend Mbappe, Dembele was starting for the first time at the competition having been injured. That was a 34th club goal since August for a player who is a serious candidate for the Ballon d'Or.

It was turning into a humiliating afternoon for Real as PSG got their third midway through the first half.

A deflected shot by Mbappe was easily held by Gianluigi Donnarumma, and no Madrid player touched the ball again before they were picking it out of their own net a minute later.

Dembele released Achraf Hakimi on the right and he squared for Ruiz, the Spain star taking a touch to hold off Fede Valverde before finishing.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia could have got a fourth before the interval, while Desire Doue had a goal disallowed for offside early in the second half.

But Real were not coming back, and Alonso opted to take off Bellingham and Vinicius just after the hour mark in a clear sign of surrender.

PSG then got their fourth after 87 minutes when Ramos controlled a pass from fellow substitute Bradley Barcola, turned and fired in.