Premier League giants Chelsea face MLS heavyweights Los Angeles FC in an engrossing clash in the Group D opener of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025.
CHE vs LAFC Match Details
Date: Monday, 16 June 2025 / Tuesday, 17 June 2025
Time: 12:00 (PDT) / 00:30 (IST)
Venue: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
CHE vs LAFC Match Preview
Chelsea is entering the Club World Cup 2025 in good spirits after an excellent season, which saw them return to Champions League football and also secure trophies, clinching the Conference League title last month. The Blues became the first club to win all major UEFA trophies in history, marking their first honour under the new ownership, which has otherwise received a lot of criticism. Enzo Maresca seemed to be building the team again, centred around a young squad full of potential, but criticism of inexperience and the inability to have a different plan when things go south remains. Nevertheless, Chelsea are buoyant ahead of the 32-team tournament, which they qualified for by winning their second Champions League title four years ago. They have also won this competition in its old format in the same year and are favourites here to top the group, even though Flamengo, LAFC and even Tunis could give them a hard time on the pitch. The five-time Premier League winners begin their journey in the new expanded competition against the MLS outfit, hoping for a win that will set them well for the possible group decider against Flamengo on Friday before wrapping up the group stages against Tunis next week.
Los Angeles FC wasn’t supposed to be in the competition hosted on their soil in the first place after losing the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League to Club Leon, who took the spot instead. However, the Mexican club was kicked out of the Club World Cup 2025 due to not being allowed multi-club ownership with another participant, Pachuca, resulting in a playoff battle between LAFC and the top-ranked side, Club América, to fill the vacancy. Despite going down from a penalty in the 60th minute, the Black and Gold bounced back strongly, completing a comeback in extra time with the star man, Denis Bouanga, scoring in the 115th minute after Igor Jesus equalised towards the end of normal time. That victory was part of a 10-game unbeaten run that Steven Cherundolo’s men are carrying to the tournament, which they can argue deserved an automatic spot, being the best team in winning every possible trophy MLS has to offer in the past five years. That momentum is required as they face a tough opponent in the competition opener, in the hope of causing a shock. LAFC has the potential to fight for the top-two spot, but it will depend on their result against Chelsea and also the crucial battle against Flamengo in the final group game, as they are expected to secure three points against Tunis.
CHE vs LAFC Recent Form (all competitions)
CHE: WLWWW
LAFC: WDDWW
CHE vs LAFC Team News
The big talking point from the Chelsea camp will be whether they will start their summer signing in the special transfer window, Liam Delap upfront, ahead of Nicolas Jackson. After all, this competition will serve as the testing ground for the 22-year-old talent acquired from Ipswich Town, who will be among the many Manchester City academy graduates in the squad that the Blues have poached in the last few seasons. One of those graduates, Jadon Sancho, though, won’t be part of the squad as the club refused to sign him after the expiration of his loan from Manchester United, letting him go back to Old Trafford to decide his future. The loanee returnees João Félix, Axel Disasi and Raheem Sterling are also not part of the tournament as the club looks to cash in on them this summer. Centre-back Wesley Fofana is ruled out with a hamstring injury.
Los Angeles FC have a familiar face in Olivier Giroud, who will face his former club, with whom he won the 2021 Champions League. However, the 38-year-old is unlikely to be given a start as the MLS outfit needs to do a lot of running and pressing, having less of the ball. The former Arsenal man will be used to make a difference from the bench instead. Another French Premier League star from another London club, Hugo Lloris, will keep his place in between the sticks as he closes on a 70th appearance for LAFC. Former Roma winger Cengiz Ünder will not be part of the lot with an injury keeping him sidelined until next month.
CHE vs LAFC Predicted Lineups
Chelsea
Sanchez; James, Adarabioyo, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernández; Madueke, Palmer, Neto; Jackson
LAFC
Lloris; Palencia, Long, Marlon, Hollingshead; Tillman, Jesus, Delgado; Ordaz, Ebobisse, Bouanga
CHE vs LAFC Dream11 Match Prediction
Chelsea are favourites to secure a win here, even though LAFC could be a tricky customer in their known environment. We predict a 3-1 win for the Blues.
CHE vs LAFC Dream11 Team Top picks
Captain Pick: Cole Palmer
Vice-captain Picks: Enzo Fernández, Nicholas Jackson
CHE vs LAFC Dream11 Team Suggestion
GK: Lloris (Cr - 7.5)
DEF: Palencia (Cr - 8.5), James (Cr - 7.5), Cucurella (Cr - 9)
MID: Madueke (Cr - 7.5), , Palmer (Cr - 9), Fernández (Cr - 9), Ordaz (Cr - 7.5)
FW: Neto (Cr - 8), Jackson (Cr - 7.5), Bouanga (Cr - 9)
Vice-captain: Enzo Fernández
Captain: Cole Palmer
