US President Donald Trump has promised to watch Chelsea will play Paris Saint-Germain in the first final of the new-format FIFA Club World Cup on Sunday, July 13 where the winner pockets $40 million and a champions badge for the next four years.
The game will be held at the 82,500-seater MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
How Chelsea, PSG qualified for the final
Chelsea beat Fluminense 2-0 thanks to a brace from João Pedro to reach their second final under Enzo Maresca.
The Brazilian side had pulled off impressive results in the previous round, including knocking out Inter Milan and Al Hilal, but were no match for the Blues.
PSG, meanwhile, showed why they were the reigning European champions, beating Madrid 4-0 on Wednesday evening.
Fabian Ruiz scored twice, with Ballon d’Or favourite Ousmane Dembele and Goncalo Ramos getting one each.
The result showed Madrid’s new coach, Xabi Alonso, just how much he needs to change to create a winning team again.
Players who will miss Chelsea vs PSG
But even as Luis Enrique prepares for another final, the Spanish tactician will have to do so without two of his players who will be suspended for the game.
PSG will be without Lucas Hernandez and William Pacho, who were red-carded in their quarter-final game against Bayern Munich.
Pacho was the first one to get sent off by referee Anthony Taylor after the Ecuadorian caught Leon Goretzka high.
Minutes later, Hernandez was also given his marching orders after he elbowed Raphael Guerreiro.
A red card will result in an automatic one-match suspension, but the disciplinary committee upgraded their suspensions to two games, which effectively rules them out of the final.
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Pacho has become a guaranteed starter under Enrique, forming a solid partnership with captain Marquinhos at the back.
In his absence in the semi-finals, Enrique played Lucas Beraldo. Hernandez, meanwhile, has often been a strong option off the bench with Nuno Mendes preferred ahead of him.
Chelsea has no suspension concerns on their end. Levi Colwill and Liam Delap will return to the squad after serving their one-match suspensions for accumulated yellow cards.
Maresca will, however, be sweating on the fitness of Moises Caicedo, who hurt his ankle in the closing stages of the Fluminense game.
The Ecuadorian was spotted with an ice pack around the ankle after the game.
Pedro introduced himself to his new fans by scoring two spectacular goals to send them to the Club World Cup final.
The Brazilian, however, didn’t celebrate any of his two goals, choosing to hold his hands up in apology instead.
The 23-year-old was only recently bought from Brighton and Hove Albion.
