Chelsea will be among the favourites for glory at the expanded FIFA Club World Cup this summer.
The Blues are one of just two Premier League representatives in the new-look competition, having won it under its old format in 2022.
The Londoners became world champions for the first time after edging to a 2-1 extra-time win over Palmeiras.
Arsenal’s Kai Havertz was the matchwinner, having also scored the decisive goal in Chelsea’s Champions League final the season before.
As a result of that 2021 European Cup win, Enzo Maresca‘s booked their spot in the revamped FIFA Club World Cup this summer.
Chelsea haven’t qualified for the Champions League since failing to defend their second crown, but the Club World Cup’s $1billion prize purse presents the club with a huge chance to claim lucrative riches.
Chelsea at Club World Cup: Fixture dates
The Blues get their Group D campaign underway on Monday, June 16, at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
That was the same venue where Chelsea secured a 3-0 win over Club America in their pre-season tour of the USA last August.
Four days later, Maresca’s side play their second Club World Cup match on Friday, June 20.
It marks the club’s return to the Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, where they beat Brighton 4-3 in the summer of 2023.
Their final Group D match will come on Wednesday, June 25, at the same stadium, with the round of 16 beginning that weekend.
The knockout stages get underway on Saturday, June 28, and continues to run until the final takes place on Sunday, July 13.
Who could Chelsea face?
The Premier League giant’s first opponents at the Club World Cup, Club Leon, were expelled from the competition last month.
The Mexican side will not play in the 32-team event after a FIFA appeals committee determined they failed to meet tournament regulations on multi-club ownership.
Instead, Chelsea will enjoy a reunion with either Club Leon’s domestic rivals, Club America, or take on Los Angeles FC.
Chelsea’s other group opponents are Flamengo of Brazil and Tunisian side Esperance.
Monday June 16
- Group D: Chelsea vs TBC – Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta – kick-off 8pm
Friday June 20
- Group D: Flamengo vs Chelsea – Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia – kick-off 7pm
Wednesday, 25 June
- Group D: Esperance de Tunis vs Chelsea – Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia – kick-off 2am
Club World Cup: Groups
Group A: Palmeiras, FC Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami
Group B: Paris St-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle Sounders
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica
Group D: Flamengo, Esperance Sportive de Tunisie, Chelsea, Club Leon (set to be replaced)
Group E: River Plate, Urawa Red Diamonds, Monterrey, Inter Milan
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg
Chelsea at Club World Cup: How to follow
DAZN have the rights to screen the tournament, and every moment from all 63 matches will be available for non-PPV subscribers.
Existing DAZN customers have access to the Club World Cup already as part of your current membership.
Every Chelsea game can be streamed on the DAZN App via smart TVs, smartphones, tablets, streaming devices, game consoles and web browsers. Sign up here.
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