📢 Can Chelsea kick off the Club World Cup with a win over Los Angeles? Chelsea undoubtedly appear stronger, both in terms of their squad and financial clout. The club regularly splashes out on transfers and boasts star players in every position. However, the match will take place in the United States (in Atlanta), which gives Los Angeles a certain edge. The crowd support will definitely be in favor of the American team, and in tournaments like this, the emotional atmosphere can play a significant role. It's quite possible this could boost their confidence and help them challenge the favorites.

Head-to-Head

📊 Chelsea and Los Angeles have never faced each other in official matches – their first encounter will take place in the Club World Cup. 

Chelsea Team Overview

🔵 Chelsea head into the Club World Cup in high spirits. At the end of May, the team achieved two major objectives: securing a spot in the Champions League group stage and confidently winning the Conference League, thrashing Betis 4-1 in the final. These triumphs have bolstered the team's confidence and morale. However, since then, the Blues haven't played any official matches—since May 28, they've only been training, which might affect their match rhythm and dynamics in their tournament opener.

✅ Chelsea find themselves in a relatively straightforward group at the Club World Cup and are expected to finish at the top. This allows the coaching staff to rotate the squad, giving fringe players opportunities in less critical matches. Nevertheless, the club remains one of the tournament favorites: according to bookmaker odds and analytical predictions, the Blues are among the top six contenders for the title. Given their squad depth and strong finish to last season, Chelsea are expected to at least reach the semifinals in this tournament.

Los Angeles Team Overview

⚫ Los Angeles are in excellent form as they approach the Club World Cup, riding an impressive unbeaten streak of 10 matches across all competitions. Their last defeat came on April 10, when they lost 3-1 to Inter Miami. Unlike Chelsea, the American side are in a competitive rhythm; on June 9, during the regular MLS season, Los Angeles comfortably defeated Sporting Kansas City 3-1.

✅ Interestingly, Los Angeles were not initially slated to participate in the Club World Cup. The spot was originally awarded to Mexico's Leon, the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League winner. However, FIFA excluded the club due to ownership rules, as Leon's owner also controls Pachuca, another Mexican team, and tournament regulations prohibit two clubs with the same owner from participating. To determine the final representative from the region, a playoff was set between Los Angeles (the Champions League finalist) and America (the top-ranked team in the region). In a dramatic encounter, Los Angeles secured their spot at the World Cup with a 2-1 victory in extra time.

Latest news

Chelsea

🚫 Chelsea have named a 28-man squad for the summer tournament running from June 14 to July 13. Notably absent is Djorde Petrovic, who impressed during his loan spell at Strasbourg and was vying for the starting goalkeeper position. Also missing from the lineup are several players who were out on loan last season, including Raheem Sterling and Joao Felix. Key defender Wesley Fofana will miss the tournament as he continues his recovery from a serious injury.

📣 Chelsea's coach Enzo Maresca emphasized that participating in the Club World Cup is a significant milestone for the club, as the tournament brings together the world's top 32 teams. In an interview, he highlighted the scale of the competition and mentioned that the upcoming matches will provide an opportunity to face some of the planet's leading managers and meet global powerhouses. Maresca also recalled the team's summer visit to North America last year, which was met with great excitement from fans, and expressed confidence that the upcoming tournament will be a fantastic chance to delight supporters once again.

Los Angeles

🚫 Los Angeles' squad for the tournament features nearly all of their top players, including star veterans and 2018 World Cup champions Hugo Lloris and Olivier Giroud. However, the team will be without Cengiz Ünder, who is sidelined with a leg injury and is not expected to return to training until July 2025.

📣 Following their playoff victory over America, the Los Angeles players expressed their joy at qualifying for the FIFA Club World Cup. American defender Aaron Long emphasized that the team went through a tough battle and now deservedly heads to the tournament they worked so hard for. He also highlighted the owners' contribution to the development of the LAFC brand and expressed pride in representing the club on the global stage. His fellow defender, Spaniard Sergi Palencia, added that this achievement is especially meaningful because it was secured in front of their home fans—their participation in the World Cup is a dream come true for the players.

⚽️ Goal Prediction

⚽️ Goal Prediction

Los Angeles are truly impressive with their scoring prowess, finding the net in 11 consecutive matches and currently in excellent form. Their quick attacking play and strong chemistry up front consistently create opportunities in the final third. Meanwhile, Chelsea face challenges in their defensive setup. Although goalkeeper Robert Sanchez has bailed the team out in critical moments, he also makes unfortunate errors during relatively straightforward plays, adding extra risk to their defense. Considering these factors, we predict that Los Angeles will score.

🚩 Corner Prediction

Los Angeles consistently show attacking intent and regularly earn corners, having won at least three corners in 13 of their last 14 matches. Even against higher-profile opponents, the American club doesn't just sit back defensively. Chelsea will undoubtedly dominate possession as expected from the favorites, but this doesn't mean Los Angeles will retreat entirely into defense. The London side has a relatively young squad that occasionally loses concentration, allowing opponents to seize the initiative. This is especially common after scoring a goal, when they tend to become more cautious and drop back. With the support of the home crowd, we predict Los Angeles to have over 2.5 total corners.