KLIK SAJA - Fresh off their UEFA Conference League triumph last month, London giants Chelsea are setting their sights on more trophy as they head to the United States for the revamped 32-team edition of the FIFA Club World Cup.
The Blues previously lifted the trophy in 2021, but this time, the path to glory is filled with greater challenges as they look to secure their second Club World Cup title.
Under the guidance of new head coach Enzo Maresca, Chelsea find themselves in Group D alongside Brazilian powerhouses Flamengo, MLS representatives Los Angeles FC, and Tunisian champions Esperance de Tunis.
Chelsea enter the tournament as clear favorites to top the group, even though they fell short in their pursuit of signing AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan and Borussia Dortmund's promising winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens ahead of the competition.
Buoyed by their European success and a fourth-place finish in the Premier League—securing a return to the UEFA Champions League—The Blues arrive in confident mood and with a squad brimming with quality.
With a significant edge in both depth and talent, Chelsea are widely expected to cruise through the group stage and advance to the quarter-finals with a perfect record.
Meanwhile, Flamengo—the iconic Brazilian club and three-time Copa Libertadores champions—are expected to do enough in their remaining matches to clinch second place in the group.
As for Los Angeles FC, just being part of the tournament is an achievement in itself, having earned their spot with a dramatic 2-1 extra-time win over Club América in a play-in match.
While LAFC are unlikely to break into the top two, they are tipped to finish third—narrowly ahead of Esperance—despite the Tunisian side riding a wave of confidence after ending the 2024–25 season unbeaten in their final 11 matches.
Given that form, the North African side could pose a real threat and emerge as a potential dark horse in the group.
Chelsea are expected to dominate all three of their group games, and as a result, the top scorer in Group D may very well come from Maresca’s side.
All eyes will be on new signing Liam Delap, who will be eager to make a strong first impression if handed minutes, though it remains to be seen whether he will be preferred over Nicolas Jackson in the starting lineup.
Still, rather than either striker, Chelsea's attacking midfielder Cole Palmer is our pick to finish as the group’s leading scorer—especially considering he is the team’s designated penalty taker.
Palmer ended the 2024–25 season as Chelsea’s top scorer in the Premier League, netting 15 goals in 37 appearances.
