Enzo Maresca prepares "Chelsea" for their Club World Cup 2025 group stage opener against "Los Angeles FC" this Monday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The Italian coach, who led the London club to Conference League glory in his debut season, now faces his first test in the expanded global tournament.
"Chelsea" secured their place in this competition by making history as the first club to win all four major UEFA tournaments – Champions League, Europa League, Super Cup, and Conference League. Their convincing 4-1 victory over "Betis" in the Conference League final capped off a remarkable first season under Maresca's leadership.
The Blues enter the competition in excellent form, having won eight of their nine final matches in the 2024/25 season. This will be their third Club World Cup appearance, with contrasting outcomes in previous tournaments.
"We've already tasted success in this competition back in 2021, and the bitter defeat to Corinthians in 2013 still lingers in the club's memory," a Chelsea spokesperson might say. "Our group with Flamengo and Esperance presents serious challenges, but we're focused first on Los Angeles."
Steven Cherundolo's "Los Angeles FC" squad earned their spot in dramatic fashion, replacing disqualified Mexican side "Leon" (who violated multi-club ownership rules) and then defeating "America" 2-1 in overtime during the play-in match.
Interestingly, the California-based team brings considerable star power to Atlanta through World Cup winners Hugo Lloris and Olivier Giroud. The French veterans provide LAFC with experienced leadership that could prove crucial against European opposition.
The American side is currently riding a 10-match unbeaten streak while maintaining impressive offensive output – scoring at least twice in their recent fixtures. Despite sitting sixth in the MLS Western Conference, LAFC has prioritized this international competition.
While "Chelsea" enters as the favorite, Cherundolo's men shouldn't be underestimated. Can the MLS representatives challenge the UEFA Conference League champions? The presence of Lloris between the posts and Giroud leading the attack suggests they might just find the net at least once.
Both sides have never faced each other before, adding another layer of intrigue to this Group D encounter that kicks off at 10:00 PM local time under Venezuelan referee Jesus Valenzuela's watch.
