FIFA have officially announced Chelsea as the ‘first ever’ Club World Cup champions after their triumph in New Jersey on Sunday night.
The Blues beat Champions League winners, and favourites for the Club World Cup, Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday night after a Cole Palmer masterclass – the forward scoring two and assisting another.
It was a shock result, but an emphatic win on the night, with Chelsea now taking home the all-new trophy, as well as a hefty cash prize.
However, their success has seemingly had an impact beyond that match, with previous Club World Cup winners now known as ‘FIFA Intercontinental Champions’.
As such, though the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Barcelona are no longer world champions.
The competition was first played in 2000 as the Club World Championship, before returning in 2005, and was played annually until 2023, before adopting its current form.
FIFA have officially announced Chelsea as the first ever Club World Cup champions
Cole Palmer inspired the Blues to a shock 3-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday night
Manchester City won the Club World Cup in 2023 – with that title now set to be called a FIFA Intercontinental Championship
This summer’s competition saw it expanded to 32 teams for the first time, having previously been fought between just six (2020) and eight (2000).
Four English teams had won the Club World Cup prior to Chelsea’s second crown on Sunday, though they will now seemingly be recorded as FIFA Intercontinental Champions titles.
FIFA appeared to confirm the news themselves on Sunday night, as they shared a social media photo of Chelsea lifting the trophy with the caption: ‘The first ever FIFA CWC Champions.’
While City won the original competition in 2023, Liverpool lifted it in 2019 and United in 2008. Chelsea had also won it previously in 2021.
Real Madrid won it the most times with five – most recently in 2022 – while Barcelona won it four times, and Chelsea, Corinthians, and Bayern Munich twice.
It was a Club World Cup final like no other before it, with President Donald Trump joining Chelsea for the trophy lift.
Having been given VIP treatment during the match alongside First Lady Melania and FIFA president Gianni Infantino, Trump took centre stage during the trophy presentation.
Trump, who was booed by a section of the crowd, presented Robert Sanchez with the tournament’s golden glove award.
Liverpool won the competition in 2019 – but it has now been revamped with the debut campaign this year
Manchester United also won the competition back in 2019 after lifting the Champions League
US President Donald Trump was in attendance and even joined in in the trophy lift ceremony
A lip reading expert revealed Trump told Cole Palmer ‘I’m a big fan of you’ after presenting him with the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player
Viewers of DAZN’s coverage were then able to watch an unlikely exchange, as Infantino introduced Trump to Palmer, as the Chelsea and England star walked up to collect his player of the tournament prize.
Lip reading expert Jeremy Freeman revealed Trump had words of admiration for Palmer, after watching his stunning performance in the final.
‘Chelsea’s biggest fan. I’m a big fan of you. So well done you,’ Trump said, according to Freeman.
Palmer, who has be known to offer few words in post-match interviews, reportedly replied ‘Thank you’ before rejoining his team-mates.
The 23-year-old’s reaction to Trump’s decision to remain on stage during Chelsea’s trophy presentation, however, has garnered the biggest reaction from fans.
The US President had been given the honour of presenting the trophy to Blues captain Reece James, with the expectation that he would then step aside, as is customary.
Infantino was seen attempting to usher Trump away from Chelsea players, but the US president remained in place, standing either side of James and Sanchez.
Trump’s refusal to leave the stage left Chelsea players bewildered with Palmer appearing to say, ‘What’s he doing?’.
Palmer had appeared baffled by Trump’s continued presence during the trophy presentation
Palmer admitted at a press conference that he was ‘a bit confused’ by the situation
Speaking post-match, Palmer admitted ‘I knew he was going to be here but I didn’t know he was going to be on the stand when we lifted the trophy so I was a bit confused, yeah.’
Further light has been shed on Trump’s presence in the trophy presentation, with his interactions with Chelsea captain James and goalkeeper Sanchez having been revealed.
While Palmer appeared confused in the background, Freeman revealed James had asked for Trump’s permission to lift the trophy.
As Palmer said ‘No, no, just wait, wait…wait…wait’, James was seen turning to the US President to seek his approval.
James reportedly said ‘I can lift?’, with Trump responding ‘Oh we can, good!’
According to Freeman, Sanchez had been open to Trump remaining on the stage and being part of the celebrations.
‘Please, sir,’ the goalkeeper said to Trump, according to Freeman, before asking him ‘Want us to lift the trophy next to you?’
With Trump having signalled his approval, Sanchez was seen motioning for James to lift the trophy and kick-start the celebrations.
