Joao Pedro made an impressive debut for Chelsea, scoring twice in a 2-0 victory over his former club Fluminense, helping the English side reach the FIFA Club World Cup final in 2025. The match took place at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, which is set to host the 2026 World Cup. Pedro, who joined Chelsea from Brighton for $81.5 million just last week, displayed remarkable skill, opening the scoring in the 18th minute with a curling shot from the left side of the box.
The Brazilian forward’s second goal came early in the second half, a powerful strike that hit the underside of the crossbar, further solidifying Chelsea’s lead.
Despite the high temperatures, with fans battling heat levels feeling like 40 degrees Celsius (104F), a strong crowd of 70,556 attended the match. This turnout was aided by FIFA’s significant reduction in ticket prices, which dropped from approximately $473.90 to as low as $13.40.
The game wasn’t without its controversies, as a potential penalty against Chelsea was overturned following a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review, which showed that defender Trevoh Chalobah’s arm was naturally positioned. Fluminense’s best chance came from Hercules, who had his shot cleared off the line by Marc Cucurella.
Tiago Silva, a former Chelsea player, faced his old team and found himself under pressure as Chelsea’s attacking prowess kept Fluminense on the defensive. Despite their valiant efforts, including several saves from their goalkeeper Fabio, they were unable to score, with Pedro’s performance proving too much to handle.
Chelsea now looks ahead to the final, where they will face either Real Madrid or Paris Saint-Germain, aiming to secure their second FIFA Club World Cup title, building on their 2021 victory. European teams have dominated this tournament, aiming for their 12th straight title, reaffirming the strength of European football on the world stage.
The future looks bright for Joao Pedro and Chelsea as they continue their quest for global glory in football.