ATLANTA (AP) — Chelsea FC kicks off its FIFA Club World Cup campaign against Los Angeles FC on Monday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, marking the Premier League’s first appearance in the revamped 32-team tournament. It’s Chelsea vs. LAFC. The Group D clash, set for 3 p.m. EDT (8 p.m. BST), pits the 2021 Club World Cup champions against an MLS side led by former Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud and ex-Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.
Chelsea, fresh off a UEFA Conference League title and a fourth-place Premier League finish, is favored to dominate under coach Enzo Maresca. The Blues boast stars like Cole Palmer, Enzo Fernández, and new signing Liam Delap, who could debut alongside fellow newcomers Dario Essugo and Mamadou Sarr. However, injuries to Wesley Fofana and a doping suspension for Mykhailo Mudryk slightly thin their squad.
LAFC, unbeaten in 10 matches, earned their spot with a dramatic 2-1 extra-time win over Club América in a May play-in, thanks to Denis Bouanga’s 115th-minute goal. Coach Steve Cherundolo acknowledges his team’s underdog status but emphasizes their counterattacking threat, with Giroud and young talents like Yaw Yeboah in the mix. The Black & Gold face a tough group with Flamengo and Hamburg SV ahead. Chelsea vs. LAFC in Atlanta, cinema.
The match airs live on TBS and truTV in the U.S., with DAZN streaming every Club World Cup game globally for free, requiring only a signup for its Freemium service. In the UK, Channel 5 broadcasts live at 7 p.m. BST, one of 23 tournament games it will show. U.S. Spanish-language coverage is on TUDN and UniMás. Radio listeners can catch the action on Spotify or SiriusXM FC, while UK fans tune into talkSPORT on DAB or MW 1089 kHz. Chelsea’s website and app offer live audio commentary from five minutes before kickoff, with highlights available post-match at 11 p.m. BST.
Mercedes-Benz Stadium is expected to be humid with possible thunderstorms, but its retractable roof ensures playability. Tickets, starting at $50, are available via FIFA’s website. The game’s outcome is critical for Chelsea, favored to top Group D, while LAFC aims to prove MLS’s growing prowess.
Analysts predict a Chelsea win, with CBS Sports forecasting a 3-0 scoreline, citing the Blues’ depth despite a grueling schedule. LAFC’s Giroud, with five goals in 33 MLS games, hopes to challenge his former club. The tournament’s $1 billion prize pool adds intensity to this transatlantic showdown.
In the meantime, we recap Le Mans here.
