Frank Christian
Premier League powerhouse Chelsea kicks off their U.S. summer tour by facing MLS team LAFC in their opening match of the Club World Cup group stage in Atlanta on Monday.
The Blues aim to enhance their transfer capabilities by securing substantial prize money in this summer’s FIFA tournament, which boasts a total purse exceeding $1 billion.
They will be up against the last team to qualify for the Club World Cup, as LAFC replaced Pachuca after the latter was ineligible due to FIFA’s multi-club ownership rules. LAFC clinched their spot by winning a playoff last month.
The Sporting News is providing live coverage of the Chelsea vs. LAFC match, including score updates, commentary, and highlights.
Current live updates | Team news and formations | Viewing options for your location
Chelsea vs. LAFC live score
| Score (1H) | Goal scorers | |
| Chelsea | 1 | Neto (34′) |
| LAFC | 0 | — |
Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta, GA)
Referee: Jesus Valenzuela Saez (VEN)
Starting lineups:
Chelsea (4-2-3-1, left to right): 1. Sanchez (GK) — 24. James, 4. Adarabioyo, 6. Colwill, 3. Cucurella — 25. Caicedo, 45. Lavia — 7. Neto, 10. Palmer, 11. Madueke — 15. Jackson.
LAFC (4-3-3, left to right): 1. Lloris (GK) — 14. Palencia, 4. Segura, 33. Long, 24. Hollingshead — 8. Delgado, 6. Jesus, 11. T. Tillman — 27. Ordaz, 17. Ebobisse, 99. Bouanga.
Chelsea vs. LAFC live updates, highlights from Club World Cup
34th min: GOAL! CHELSEA! PEDRO NETO SCORE! Nicolas Jackson plays a pass to Neto on the right, leaving him in a one-on-one situation. After a clever move to outpace Ryan Hollingshead, Neto takes a touch with his left foot and shoots past Hugo Lloris at the near post. Excellent finish!
24th min: Moises Caicedo is penalized for a foul after taking down Denis Bouanga, resulting in a dangerous free-kick for LAFC that Caicedo disputes. Although the free-kick goes to waste, Caicedo needs to tread carefully after his outburst towards the referee.
20th min: Opportunity for Chelsea! Cole Palmer comes agonizingly close to scoring, sending a shot that slightly deflects off a defender and goes just over the bar. So near for Chelsea!
17th min: Chance for Chelsea! A HUGE SAVE BY HUGO LLORIS! Noni Madueke weaves his way towards goal and unleashes a shot from a tight angle, but Lloris delivers a fantastic stop and also denies Cole Palmer’s rebound attempt.
15th min: LAFC’s defense has been strong, but Cole Palmer is starting to find space and create chances for Chelsea. The LAFC defenders must remain vigilant to avoid any punishments.
12th min: The match briefly pauses as the referee checks his equipment at the touchline but resumes shortly.
5th min: Opportunity for Chelsea! Chelsea establishes early dominance, with Nicolas Jackson striking a shot that forces Hugo Lloris to make a save. Despite the pressure, Jackson turns well for the effort, but it was too centralized for a goal.
Kickoff: The match has started at Mercedes-Benz Stadium! The recent Conference League winners are eager to embark on their Champions League journey while also aiming for a successful campaign in the Club World Cup!
Chelsea vs. LAFC: Pre-match insights, analysis, and more
15 mins to kickoff: Attendance has been a significant discussion point ahead of the Club World Cup, with matches struggling to attract fans for a 3 p.m. midweek start. Even in a vibrant city like Atlanta, coupled with a top-notch stadium and a Premier League club, ticket sales seem to be faltering significantly, casting a shadow on the event.
— Nizaar Kinsella (@NizaarKinsella) June 16, 2025
30 mins to kickoff: A lot of conversations about Chelsea’s squad numbers this summer, especially with Liam Delap taking over the No. 9 shirt. Notably, Cole Palmer is debuting his new No. 10 shirt today, a switch from the No. 20 he wore upon joining the club.
Cole Palmer to wear No.10 for the first time at Chelsea. pic.twitter.com/fE8w9mjBNG
— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) June 16, 2025
45 mins to kickoff: The retractable roof at Mercedes-Benz is closed due to a sweltering 86 degrees Fahrenheit in Atlanta today. This may be the norm for many upcoming matches during the Club World Cup.
This week will be warm, and next week will be warmer. We are forecasting heat indices between 98 to 104 degrees in Georgia next week. Summer is officially here and it is settling in. #gawx
— NWS Atlanta (@NWSAtlanta) June 16, 2025
1 hour until kickoff: The lineups have been announced! Both squads have fielded formidable players, with Enzo Maresca opting for his most reliable defenders. Chelsea’s only unexpected choice is the inclusion of Romeo Lavia in the midfield alongside Moises Caicedo, leaving Enzo Fernandez on the bench to start the match.
For LAFC, Hugo Lloris will be the goalkeeper, while Olivier Giroud will start on the bench, as anticipated.
1 hour 15 minutes until kickoff: The event takes place at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium, recognized as one of the premier new venues across the U.S. It promises to be an excellent spot for enjoying a soccer match.
Despite LAFC being in their home country, the considerable distance they’ve traveled for this match is noteworthy. It’s a well-known fact in U.S. sports that long-distance travel impacts team performance. For instance, NFL teams from the east coast often struggle when they travel to play in places like California.
At Mercedes-Benz Stadium for Chelsea v LAFC. pic.twitter.com/U4dwbk0u5X
— James Olley (@JamesOlley) June 16, 2025
1 hour 30 minutes until kickoff: Former Chelsea frontman Olivier Giroud, now at 38, isn’t a regular starter for LAFC, yet he may prove beneficial from the bench if the MLS team manages to stay competitive in the initial stages of the game. The retired French international expresses his eagerness to reconnect with familiar faces from his former London club.
He holds a modest record against Chelsea, scoring just one goal in 16 matches, one of his less favorable stats against any team.
“Everything is different. The ownership and manager are new… but I hope to see some familiar faces in Orlando.”
Olivier Giroud is looking forward to competing against his former club Chelsea with LAFC at the Club World Cup.
@MrogersATH pic.twitter.com/9dAX493Z1h
— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) June 16, 2025
1 hour 45 minutes until kickoff: While Chelsea is just beginning their journey in the Club World Cup, the club’s transfer activities never halt. They have reportedly reached out to Lyon regarding 20-year-old winger Malick Fofana, who impressed last season with five goals and four assists in 29 league appearances. His standout performances came in Europe, netting six goals and providing two assists across 10 Europa League matches.
Following Jadon Sancho’s return to Manchester United, they’re in pursuit of a dynamic winger to lessen their dependence on the aging Pedro Neto, especially alongside the impactful Noni Madueke.
2 hours until kickoff: A captivating storyline this summer is whether new Chelsea striker Liam Delap can carve out a role as he aims for the starting spot next season. Despite supporting Nicolas Jackson through his fluctuations, the Blues invested in the Ipswich Town star.
Enzo Maresca, who previously coached Delap in the Manchester City youth academy, has not confirmed Delap’s starting prospects this summer, though he has indicated that he believes Delap will eventually assume a leading striker role with the England team.
Maresca on Liam Delap: “Liam understands the significance of the no. 9 position for this club. He appears relaxed and focused. We have a history, and I know his potential; he knows what he needs to enhance his game. As our no. 9, we hope he can…”
— Nizaar Kinsella (@NizaarKinsella) June 16, 2025
Chelsea vs. LAFC kickoff schedule
This Club World Cup contest will commence at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Monday, June 16 at 3 p.m. local time in Atlanta, GA. Here’s how that timing compares for several key regions worldwide:
| Date | Kickoff time | |
| USA/Canada | Mon, Jun. 16 | 3 p.m. ET |
| USA/Canada | Mon, Jun. 16 | 12 p.m. PT |
| UK | Mon, Jun. 16 | 8 p.m. BST |
| Australia | Tue, Jun. 17 | 5 a.m. AEST |
| India | Tue, Jun. 17 | 12:30 a.m. IST |
Club World Cup Group D positions
| Position | Team | Matches Played | Wins | Draws | Losses | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points |
| 1. | Chelsea | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2. | Esperance de Tunis | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3. | Flamengo | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4. | LAFC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Chelsea vs. LAFC squad updates
While it’s uncertain how much rotation Maresca will implement, predicting the starting lineup has been challenging due to Chelsea’s fluctuating roster dynamics. However, Maresca has fielded almost his top squad today, with one change—Romeo Lavia takes the midfield position, while Enzo Fernandez starts off the bench.
New signings Liam Delap, Dario Essugo, Mike Penders, and Mamadou Sarr are included in the traveling squad. Delap is anticipated to get minutes to showcase his talents during this tournament, although Nicolas Jackson leads the line today. Players returning from international duty were also potential candidates for rest, but Noni Madueke and Marc Cucurella are in the starting lineup, while Fernandez will take a breather after trans-Atlantic travel.
Returning loanees, including Raheem Sterling, have been left out, and…Joao Felix, Ben Chilwell, Djordje Petrovic, Axel Disasi, and Renato Veiga will remain at home instead of being included in the squad, though Andrey Santos has returned after his stint with Strasbourg in France. Omari Kellyman and Wesley Fofana are absent as they recover from injuries sustained over an extended period.
Chelsea starting lineup (4-2-3-1): Sanchez (GK) — James, Adarabioyo, Colwill, Cucurella — Caicedo, Lavia — Neto, Palmer, Madueke — Jackson.
Chelsea substitutes: Jorgensen (GK), Anselmino, Badiashile, Acheampong, Gusto, Sarr, Chalobah, Santos, Essugo, E. Fernandez, Dewsbury-Hall, George, Nkunku, Delap, Guiu.
LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo, aware of their tough competition path, has chosen to field his top players in hopes of achieving an unexpected victory, knowing that elimination won’t heavily impact the team in the long run.
World Cup champion Hugo Lloris is the primary goalkeeper for the team, while veteran Olivier Giroud, a former Chelsea player, primarily comes off the bench as he approaches the final stages of his career at 38 years.
This offseason, LAFC significantly restructured their roster, parting ways with long-standing members like Carlos Vela, Ilie Sanchez, Mateusz Bogusz, Cristian Olivera, and Jesus Murillo while welcoming new talents such as Igor Jesus, Mark Delgado (who moved from cross-town rivals LA Galaxy), Marlon, Yaw Yeboah, Frankie Amaya, and Jeremy Ebobisse.
LAFC starting lineup (4-3-3): Lloris (GK) — Palencia, Segura, Long, Hollingshead — Delgado, Jesus, T. Tillman — Ordaz, Ebobisse, Bouanga.
LAFC substitutes: Ochoa (GK), Hasal (GK), Marlon, Chanot, Tafari, Saldana, Amaya, Holm, Raposo, Wibowo, D. Martinez, Yeboah, Giroud.
How to watch Chelsea vs. LAFC live
Here’s where to catch the match in various major regions:
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