49 h. ago An abomination or a lot of fun? Our readers review the Club World Cup

We asked readers if they enjoyed the tournament, how it could be improved and if they will watch in four years’ timeIt is a senseless attempt to line Fifa’s already gilded pockets and increase the demands on already exhausted players who must be close to breaking point. The idea of the world’s top clubs playing each other is dull because of the mismatch in resources between Europe and the rest. No one needs more games in an already crowded calendar. Playing it in the heat of the American summer is another mistake. I suspect the clubs that participated will pay for it next season. Scrap it. Max, an Arsenal fan Continue reading...

Politics

64 h. ago Trump says Club World Cup trophy will remain in Oval Office after tournament’s end

US president was given trophy earlier this yearChelsea won newly expanded tournament on SundayUS president Donald Trump has claimed that the Club World Cup trophy that has featured prominently in the Oval Office will stay there, and that Fifa made a copy of the trophy that was awarded to Chelsea after their win in the tournament’s final on Sunday.Trump attended the final along with numerous members of his cabinet and Fifa president Gianni Infantino. The pair of presidents jointly presented the trophy to Chelsea captain Reece James, with Trump staying front-and-center despite the apparent confusion of Chelsea players and the pleading of Infantino. Continue reading...

Society

2 d. ago Club World Cup dismissed as a Fifa ‘fiction’ by head of players’ union

Sergio Marchi likens Infantino to Roman emperor NeroHe says staging was reminiscent of ‘bread and circuses’The president of Fifpro has described the Club World Cup as a “fiction” and compared Gianni Infantino to the Roman emperor Nero, as the dispute between the players’ union and Fifa continued to escalate.Sergio Marchi joined the ranks of those critical of Infantino’s expanded tournament, saying a “lack of protection” for players had left the Club World Cup equivalent to “bread and circuses”. It is understood Fifpro was not invited to a meeting regarding player welfare held by Infantino in New York on the eve of the final, won 3-0 by Chelsea against Paris Saint-Germain. Continue reading...

Sport

3 d. ago Club World Cup 2025 prize money: How much richer are Chelsea for winning the tournament?

Fifa has put up a $1bn prize pot at its revamped tournament in the United States

Society

3 d. ago Chelsea vs PSG LIVE: Club World Cup final result, latest updates and reaction as Blues crowned world champions

FIFA tournament concludes tonight in New Jersey with blockbuster clash

Sport

3 d. ago Chelsea stun PSG to win Club World Cup after Cole Palmer’s cool double

Final: Chelsea 3-0 Paris Saint-GermainPalmer 22 30, João Pedro 43The boy from Wythenshawe who had sat on top of the Rockefeller on Friday took Chelsea to the top of the world on Sunday. It was 90F down on the pitch in New Jersey but, oh, this was cold all right.Two wonderful almost identical strikes, executed with an effortless ease, and a lovely soft-shoed assist from Cole Palmer made Chelsea the first winners of the 32-team Club World Cup, history made here. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Chelsea vs PSG LIVE: Club World Cup final match stream, latest score and goal updates

FIFA tournament concludes tonight in New Jersey with blockbuster clash

Sport

3 d. ago Chelsea vs PSG LIVE: Club World Cup final match stream, latest team news, lineups, TV, prediction

FIFA tournament concludes tonight in New Jersey with blockbuster clash

Sport

5 d. ago Test your eyes by spotting the trophy hidden in the stadium for FIFA Club World Cup 2025

A new brainteaser is sweeping the internet which shows a football-inspired optical illusion - but you'll need to have sharp eyes to find the hidden trophy in 10 seconds

Politics

6 d. ago Is the Club World Cup a good addition to the football calendar?

Is the newly expanded tournament a waste of time or an interesting idea that brings the world together?There are plenty of reasons to be down on the Club World Cup. The players were already exhausted and overworked; its evolution into a 32-team tournament has been drive by a desire for profit; it has been played in temperatures that make football almost unbearable; the stadiums have often been half empty; and it has given Donald Trump and Gianni Infantino an opportunity to fluff their already inflated egos.But there is something to be said for a competition that brings together teams, and fans, from across the globe every four years. Supporters from around the world, especially Brazil, have lit up the show. And the underdogs have shown up. Flamengo stunned Chelsea; Botafogo shocked PSG; Al-Hilal sent Manchester City home. There have been great games, goals and performances, with PSG putting on a show for the ages in the semi-finals as they hammered Real Madrid. Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago Luis Enrique responds to PSG accusation after thrashing Real Madrid

Paris Saint-Germain head coach Luis Enrique says his team has more than answered its critics with its recent achievements

Politics

6 d. ago Club World Cup 2025: Results, fixtures and how to watch final for free

Chelsea and PSG meet with world champion status on the line

Politics

6 d. ago Club World Cup 2025 prize money: How much will Chelsea earn if they win the tournament?

Fifa has put up a $1bn prize pot at its revamped tournament in the United States

Society

7 d. ago Mbappé gets stuck in Dembélé’s shadow in Real Madrid’s shapeless shambles | Jacob Steinberg

PSG’s Club World Cup demolition was further proof that perhaps Real Madrid signed the wrong French forwardThe first drinks break was unplanned. It came six minutes ahead of schedule, but Real Madrid were grateful for the respite. They wandered to the touchline, dazed and confused, and reached for the water bottles. They looked to Xabi Alonso and hoped for answers. After 24 minutes of being pummelled by Paris Saint-Germain, though, the thought occurred that the players in white would have been better off asking for smelling salts.It is never a good sign when the emergency team talk takes place with more than an hour left. PSG had just stormed into a 3-0 lead, Fabián Ruiz scoring his second after a stunning combination between the exceptional Ousmane Dembélé and the flying Achraf Hakimi on the right, and to be honest the scoreline felt kind on Madrid. The New Jersey sun was beating down but PSG were merciless. Lads, it’s 33C. Any chance of slowing down? Continue reading...

Politics

7 d. ago PSG cruise to Club World Cup final after Ruiz and Dembélé stun Real Madrid

PSG 4-0 Real Madrid: Ruiz 6 24, Dembélé 9, Ramos 87Chelsea to play European champions in Sunday’s finalThere was a moment towards the end of Kylian Mbappé’s final season in France when Luis Enrique called him into his office and explained that if they did things his way, then Paris Saint-Germain could become an “absolute machine”.A little over a year later, on the day his first season at Real Madrid came to an end against his former club, the striker saw for himself, up close and painful, just how right his coach had been. The team that went to Munich and put five past Inter, the biggest winning margin a European Cup final has ever seen, came to New York and scored four against the game’s greatest aristocrats to take them to the final of the Club World Cup. Continue reading...

Politics

7 d. ago PSG XI vs Real Madrid: Confirmed team news, starting lineup, injury latest for Club World Cup semi

PSG are without suspended defensive duo for Club World Cup semi-final showdown

Events

7 d. ago Real Madrid XI vs PSG: Confirmed starting lineup, injury latest for Club World Cup semi

Los Blancos are without one of their summer signings due to suspension

Events

8 d. ago João Pedro sends Chelsea to Club World Cup final as stunners sink Fluminense

Fluminense 0-2 Chelsea (João Pedro 18, 56)New signing scores twice against boyhood clubThe talk was mostly about Enzo Maresca wanting to add more guile to his attack when Chelsea signed João Pedro last week. Less was made of the former Brighton forward’s ability to crash through an opposition defence. Then again Fluminense made João Pedro and were probably not surprised to find their former star in scintillating goalscoring form in this one-sided Club World Cup semi-final.Two thunderous finishes from the versatile attacker were enough to ensure that Chelsea will return to the MetLife Stadium to face Paris Saint-Germain or Real Madrid in Sunday’s final. They can make £97m in prize money from this tournament, which is probably just as well given their spending. Continue reading...

Sport

8 d. ago Chelsea XI vs Fluminense: Starting lineup, confirmed team news, injury latest for Club World Cup semi

Enzo Maresca hands a start to Joao Pedro for first time in huge last-four showdown

Events

9 d. ago Revenge in the air as Kylian Mbappé and PSG clash in Club World Cup semi

Real Madrid forward faces former club amid legal war and bitterness, after watching PSG grab the glory he left to pursueThis is a tale of blackmail and revenge, or so it goes. Of power and money, lots of money. It is also a story of sport. The buildup to the semi-final of the Club World Cup between Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid, those two empires and enemies, didn’t begin with a fitness update from Atlanta or Palm Beach; it began on Monday morning New York time with news from Paris that Kylian Mbappé had withdrawn a legal claim accusing his former club of extortion and harassment. Two days before kick-off, it was time for the football.Well, sort of. “The Real Madrid striker and his entourage want to calm the situation and concentrate exclusively on sporting issues,” L’Équipe reported. Definitely nothing to do with their prospects of winning the case, then. Besides, there is still the demand for €55m in allegedly unpaid wages and bonuses, which led to PSG’s accounts being momen...

Society