Chelsea advanced to the Club World Cup final as Joao Pedro, a recent addition, scored twice to help defeat Fluminense of Brazil.
Making his complete debut against his boyhood club, the 23-year-old scored his first goal in the 18th minute when Pedro Neto’s cross was not cleared by former Blues defender Thiago Silva.
He clinched the win with his second, a strong shot that went in off the bar in the 56th minute.
With Joao Pedro swiftly helping to recoup some of the £55 million paid to sign him from Brighton last week, Chelsea will add £22 million to the £60 million already won at the competition as a result of the victory.
Christopher Nkunku had several chances to increase the score, but Marc Cucurella stopped Hercules’ effort and substitute Everaldo’s attempt was saved.
The Rio-based team might be upset after referee Francois Letexier reversed his original call to award a penalty for Trevoh Chalobah’s handball in the first half following a VAR intervention.
Even though the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey was packed and scorching at 35 degrees Celsius, Chelsea always seemed poised to advance after they took the lead.
A possible injury to midfielder Moises Caicedo, who seemed to hurt his ankle in the 93rd minute and left the field before the game was over, was the only negative aspect of Chelsea’s evening.
In the final on Sunday, the Blues will play either Real Madrid or Paris Saint-Germain at the same location at 20:00 BST.
What is the major topic of conversation?
The American dream of hard work leading to wealth is a topic of much discussion.
This is the situation with Chelsea’s players at the Club World Cup, who have both extended their season by seven more games in sweltering heat and with more travel, but they might soon have a trophy to show for their seriousness.
They will pocket bonuses since the club has made over £80 million, and if they win the cup, that amount may rise to around £100 million.
Who was the most noticeable?
Pedro Neto, the winger, not only has the potential to win player of the tournament but also stands as his club’s best player overall, demonstrated equal impressiveness and earned the official man of the match award alongside goal scorer Joao Pedro.
While Nkunku had perhaps his greatest season in 2025, despite ongoing rumours of a move away from Stamford Bridge, Enzo Fernandez and Cucurella were also strong.
What do these teams do next?
In the final, Chelsea will play either Real Madrid or PSG, while Fluminense will play Mirassol and Cruzeiro to begin their domestic campaign.
