TokyoBlue

Chelsea's first opponent will be Los Angeles FC or Club America of Mexico. To be decided in a single play-off game on 31st May in LA. https://www.lafc.com/news/lafc-to-face-club-america-in-play-off-match-for-a-place-in-2025-fifa-club-world-cup

Official Match Ball

Mon June 16th 15:00 (21:00 UK) - Chelsea vs Leon - Atlanta Fri June 20th 14:00 (20:00 UK) - Flamengo vs Chelsea - Philadelphia Tue June 24th 21:00 (03:00 UK) - Esperance de Tunis vs Chelsea - Philadelphia Local KO times are 6 hours behind UK times.

So many teams around the world, let alone Europe, would love to have the opportunity we’ve got here. I say we go for this full out to win it. We’re in the perfect position to enjoy it as well with no pressure as we already have one in the cabinet. We win the UEFA conference and this new look trophy, we really will have won it all.

Stadium locations announced: MetLife Stadium (New York New Jersey) - FINAL Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta), Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte), TQL Stadium (Cincinnati), Rose Bowl Stadium (Los Angeles), Hard Rock Stadium (Miami), GEODIS Park (Nashville), Camping World Stadium (Orlando), Inter&Co Stadium (Orlando), Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia), Lumen Field (Seattle), Audi Field (Washington, D.C.). https://www.fifa.com/en/tournaments/mens/club-world-cup/usa-2025/articles/stadium-guide-venues-named

If anything shows just how inept UEFA is, two London clubs flying to Baku was it.

The flood gates will open with that formation.

Some brillaint tips away there. It's lilke 1997/1998 Cup Winner's Cup run for me. A fantastic season that was. Teams we'd never heard of, and hopefully we get one where it snows again!

I think this is a decent lineup. I also think we can beat all of them.

I was not aware of that prize money. 50m euros for qualifying - is that every team? Some teams in this competition will never have seen that kind of money.

I get your point, and injuries need to be avoided as always. Coach can play which ever players he sees fit. If he don't want to risk anyone, he does not have to. However, I don't see this as a season event. I see this as part of Chelsea's legacy. We are already the only London club to win the Champions League and current Club World Cup. It's likely we'll be the only London club to play in this tournament for a long time. If we win it, then it's next level. As for too many games, we usually have a packed pre-season schedule. For example in 2019 we played 9 pre-season games. This should replace most of that (depending how far we go) and actually mean something. If we opted out, there are plenty of other teams that would jump at the chance.

I see it similar to when the first world cups were held in the 1930's. England turned down a chance to attend and regretted it. Also Chelsea turned down the chance to play in the inaugural European Cup in 1955 due to pressure form the FA. A huge mistake. Football has become truly global. We've earned our spot and can't waste the opportunity.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/dec/17/liverpool-miss-2025-club-world-cup-spot-qualification That's a shame.....

Like it.

Same here. I heard from someone that works at Stamford Bridge that this is has been one of the best selling shirt launches in years as everyone seems to want one, As long as no logos, got to be done. Also ordered the Away top as well.

New kit looks good with no sponsor. Would be great if sell it like that (unlikely of course).

I'm going! Most people know someone over in the USA and it could be a long time before we get a chance to see Chelsea in this competition again. Who knows how big this competition could become in the future? Let's not forget that we qualified for the first ever European Cup in 1955 - and were persuaded by the FA to turn down the invite. History could have been very different.

Off to the USA in 2025 we go! https://www.fifa.com/about-fifa/organisation/fifa-council/media-releases/fifa-council-appoints-united-states-as-host-of-new-and-expanded-fifa-club-world-cup

LOL - we never seem to do anything by the book! Annoying as it was, he did still play his part.

Being in June/July must rule out the Middle East. I'm guessing USA as they have the capacity, plus it would be good prep for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

I think 32 is twice as big as it needs to be. It's too many and limits who can host among other things. Saying that, it's 7 games if you go all the way to the final or 3rd place playoff. Now of course 7 games sounds like a lot, until you consider that Chelsea played 7 pre-season games before the 2016–17 season, and 9 before the 2019–20 season. As well as the prestige of calling ourselves "World Champions", there's also talk of a big financial incentive.

I know opinions are divided about this, but then again they were when Chelsea qualified for the inaugural 1955-1956 European Cup. Personally I'm looking forward to it as would rather be in competitions like this and not watching on from the sidelines like Tottenham.

I might be late on this, but only just realized Chelsea have already booked a slot! IF they actually pull this off it will be 32 teams meeting in June/July 2025, host TBD but USA is rumoured. Qualified so far: • Chelsea FC (England) – Champions UEFA Champions League 2020/21 • Real Madrid CF (Spain) – Champions UEFA Champions League 2021/22 • Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia) – Champions AFC Champions League 2021 • Al Ahly (Egypt) – Champions CAF Champions League 2020/21 • Wydad Casablanca (Morocco) – Champions CAF Champions League 2021/22 • Monterrey (Mexico) – Champions Concacaf Champions League 2021 • Seattle Sounders (USA) – Champions Concacaf Champions League 2022 • Palmeiras (Brazil) – Champions CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores 2021 • Flamengo (Brazil) – Champions CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores 2022

Yeah what is Burley's problem?

That's 48 hours from now!