Chelsea Advance in Club World Cup with Heat, Hype and a Tunisian Test
What a journey it’s been so far for Chelsea at the 2025 Club World Cup. From searing 40-degree heat in Philadelphia to a composed 3-0 win over ES Tunis, the Blues are navigating this high-stakes tournament with grit, rotation, and a fair bit of promise. And let’s not forget—there’s a staggering $150 million prize pot at stake.
The win against Espérance de Tunis was significant—not just for the scoreline, but for the confidence it restored after the earlier 3-1 setback against Flamengo. With temperatures soaring and humidity off the charts, playing fluid, dynamic football became a battle of survival and tactics. Yet Chelsea’s second string rose to the occasion. Liam Delap, recently signed from Ipswich, made headlines with his first goal for the club, showing sharp instincts and a cool finish that may well cement his place in the squad moving forward.
Enzo Maresca rotated heavily for the match, resting key names like Cole Palmer, Moises Caicedo, and Reece James, yet still managed to control the tempo against a fairly underwhelming ES Tunis side. Noni Madueke looked sharp throughout, Fernandez pulled the strings in midfield, and Nkunku—though not a perfect fit in Maresca’s system—showed he still has a role to play with smart positioning and effort in the box.
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But it wasn’t all smooth sailing leading up to this. The loss to Flamengo was a wake-up call. The Brazilian side tore Chelsea apart in a brutal six-minute spell, with Nicolas Jackson earning a red card—his second in just a month. That dismissal opened the door for Delap, and he’s taken full advantage so far.
The logistics of this tournament are no joke either. Chelsea have had to train in record heat with minimal sessions, using industrial fans and water breaks to keep players from overheating. With their base in Philadelphia, they now face a travel-heavy schedule, with the last-16 match in Charlotte and potentially moving to Miami or New York depending on how far they go.
And they’ve got a serious test next: Benfica. A disciplined, Champions League-hardened squad that just stunned Bayern Munich. Maresca isn’t taking anything for granted, insisting it’s “game by game” with eyes firmly set on the quarter-finals.
From a financial perspective, Chelsea are already making serious gains—earning nearly $50 million by just getting through the group. With more wins, that figure could almost triple. But fans aren’t unanimously thrilled. Many complain about the steep ticket prices and player fatigue in a calendar already jam-packed with competitions.
Still, on the pitch, Chelsea look hungry. Young talent is emerging. Veterans are rested. And with each game, the Club World Cup is becoming less of a preseason chore and more of a proving ground. If they keep this momentum, silverware—and a hefty payday—may not be far off.
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