Chelsea vs Los Angeles FC Highlights FIFA Club World Cup 2025: CHE 2-0 LAFC | Neto, Enzo Sink LA

Chelsea vs Los Angeles FC AS IT HAPPENED: Chelsea kicked off their FIFA Club World Cup campaign with a 2-0 win against Los Angeles FC in their Group D opener in Atlanta on Monday. While the scoreline suggests control, the Blues' performance was far from flawless.

Pedro Neto broke the deadlock in the 34th minute with a fine finish, set up by Nicolas Jackson, who had earlier come close to scoring himself along with Cole Palmer. Enzo Fernandez sealed the victory later in the second half, ensuring a solid start for Chelsea despite a display that lacked their usual sharpness.

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Chelsea arrive with a legacy stretching back over a century, featuring top-tier English football pedigree and a cabinet full of silverware. Their consistent presence in elite European competitions has established them as one of the continent's elite clubs. On the opposite end, LAFC, formed just seven years ago, have quickly risen to the top of the MLS pecking order. Since their 2018 debut, no MLS team has accumulated more wins, goals, or points than the Black and Gold, making them the league's most dominant force.

The London club qualified for this year's Club World Cup by winning the UEFA Champions League in the 2020-21 season. Since then, they've gone on an unprecedented trophy run in Europe, completing the set by also capturing the Europa League, UEFA Super Cup, and the newly introduced Europa Conference League. Their most recent success came in spectacular fashion, thrashing Real Betis 4-1 in the Conference League final-a result that capped off a stellar debut season for manager Enzo Maresca.

This marks Chelsea's third Club World Cup campaign. They were runners-up in 2012, losing to Corinthians, but claimed the title in 2021 with a dramatic extra-time victory over Palmeiras.

One of Chelsea's former heroes, Olivier Giroud, now plays a key role for LAFC. The French striker, who helped the Blues win multiple major trophies, including the Champions League and Europa League, is expected to be a major threat up front for the American side.

LAFC's path to the tournament was unexpected. Originally not in the lineup, they earned their place after Mexican side Club León was disqualified. They seized the opportunity by defeating Club América 2-1 in a playoff match. Since then, Steve Cherundolo's men have been in superb form, capping off their pre-tournament preparations with a 3-1 win over Sporting Kansas City on June 9. The victory extended their unbeaten streak to 10 matches, with the team scoring two or more goals in each-a clear warning to their upcoming opponents.

This transatlantic showdown promises fireworks, as Chelsea aim to reassert global dominance and LAFC look to make history on their Club World Cup debut.