Although Chelsea have played several American sides in friendly matches previously, this marks our first competitive match against a side from the USA.

It will be our first game against Los Angeles FC but we have faced other LA teams before. In June 1977, we beat the now defunct Los Angeles Aztecs 3-1 away, with George Best opening the scoring for the home side before a Kenny Swain brace and Bill Garner secured our victory. We won another friendly match 2-0 against the LA Aztecs, featuring Johan Cruyff, at Stamford Bridge in October 1979.

More recently in July 2007 we played at LA Galaxy and won by the only goal scored by John Terry.

Chelsea stats

Chelsea secured our place at the FIFA Club World Cup by defeating Manchester City in the 2020/21 Champions League final, claiming one of the 12 berths open to teams who play under European football’s governing body. That was the second time the Blues lifted the trophy, following victory over Bayern Munich in 2012.

Chelsea are contesting our third FIFA Club World Cup and first in this extended format.

Our previous matches in the competition

2012/13 in Japan
Semi-final: Monterrey (Mexico) - W 3-1 (Mata, Torres, own goal)
Final: Corinthians (Brazil) - L 0-1

2021/22 in United Arab Emirates
Semi-final: Al-Hilal (Saudia Arabia) - W 1-0 (Lukaku)
Final: Palmeiras (Brazil) - W 2-1 aet (Lukaku, Havertz pen)

Chelsea are taking on clubs from Brazil, Tunisia and the USA at the group stage, those being Copa Libertadores winners Flamengo; Esperance, who qualified via the ranking pathway; and Los Angeles FC who secured their place after a play-off win over Club America two weeks ago.

This will be the third consecutive year we have played a match in Atlanta at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The previous two were on pre-season tours, in 2023 when Nicolas Jackson scored in a 1-1 draw against Newcastle United in front of over 70,000, and last year when we won 3-0 against Club America with goals from Christopher Nkunku, Marc Guiu and Noni Madueke.

Enzo Fernandez assisted more goals than any other Chelsea player in all competitions in 2024/25 (14), while only Cole Palmer (97) created more chances than the Argentinian midfielder (92).

Starting with Fulham away on 20 April, Chelsea have won eight of our past nine matches across all competitions, only losing to Newcastle in that run. Four of those wins were 1-0.

Enzo Maresca has currently used a club-record 39 players this season, surpassing the previous record of 36 from our last campaign.

As the Club World Cup begins in June, statistics from the competition are being categorised as part of the 2024/25 season.

If selected, Trevoh Chalobah will make his 100th appearance for the club.

LAFC stats

Founded: 2014, with their first MLS game in March 2018
Ground: BMO Stadium (Capacity 22,000)
Nickname The Black and Gold

Los Angeles Football Club were runners-up in the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League and won three major domestic trophies in their first seven seasons: the 2019 and 2022 MLS Supporters’ Shield (the trophy awarded to the team with the best regular season record) and the 2022 MLS Cup as the league’s play-off champion.

The Black and Gold are one of three teams from Major League Soccer (MLS), along with Inter Miami and Seattle Sounders, to take part in 2025 Club World Cup being held in 12 different venues in the USA.

LAFC defeated Mexican side Club America 2-1 in extra time in the Club World Cup play-off match to become the tournament’s final qualifier.

Thirty-eight-year-old Olivier Giroud, who played for Chelsea between 2018 to 2021, is in the LAFC squad. He has scored one goal in 16 career matches against the Blues, the only opponent he has faced 10 or more times and not scored at least twice against.

If selected, this will be goalkeeper Hugo Lloris’ 24th match against Chelsea in all competitions, his most against any opponent. Lloris’ side won four of the previous 23 (seven draws, 12 defeats), keeping three clean sheets.

2025 season so far

MLS Western Conference: Currently fifth
Leagues Cup: Starts in July
CONCACAF Champions Cup: Quarter-finals

LAFC's top scorer all competitions is Denis Bouanga with 12 goals.

The MLS regular season runs between February and October each year. LAFC are unbeaten in 10 matches in over two months across all competitions (five wins, five draws).

Going into this weekend’s fixtures, Los Angeles are fifth out of 15 sides in the MLS Western Conference on 26 points after 16 games. Vancouver Whitecaps are top on 35 points.

US-born head coach Steve Cherundolo has not coached or played for a side against Chelsea.

Last five results

Seattle Sounders (MLS) - W 4-0
LA Galaxy (MLS) - D 2-2
Montreal (MLS) - D 2-2
Club America (CWC play-off) - W 2-1 aet
Kansas City (MLS) - W 3-1