Chelsea vs LAFC: 2025 FIFA CWC match preview, predictions

Chelsea FC kick off their 2025 FIFA Club World Cup campaign against Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles FC (LAFC) in a Group D opener on Monday June 16, 2025, 3:00 PM ET (8:00 PM BST), Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia, marking the start of the revamped 32-team tournament. With Chelsea as favorites and LAFC as underdogs, this match promises an intriguing clash of styles, featuring a reunion with former Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud. This piece is set to preview of both teams’ performances, tactics, team news, head-to-head statistics, and a scoreline prediction.

Chelsea’s team form

Chelsea enter the tournament on a high after winning the 2024/25 UEFA Conference League under manager Enzo Maresca, securing their ninth European trophy. The Blues finished the 2024/25 Premier League season in fourth place, earning a Champions League spot for 2025/26. Their attacking output was formidable, with 15 clean sheets in 38 Premier League matches and a strong second half of the season, including five clean sheets in their final nine league games. Cole Palmer led the charge, scoring 15 goals and providing 10 assists in 37 Premier League appearances, finishing with 214 Fantasy Premier League points, second only to Mohamed Salah and Bryan Mbeumo. Chelsea’s open-play attacking (89th percentile in the Premier League) and creative possession-based play have been standout strengths, though early-season inconsistency raised questions about Maresca’s ability to maximize the squad’s potential. Their recent Conference League final showcased their attacking power, with Palmer delivering two assists.

Chelsea tactical analysis

Under Maresca, Chelsea deploy a 4-3-3 formation, emphasizing possession, creative play, and high pressing. Their midfield trio of Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernández, and Romeo Lavia provides defensive stability and progressive passing, with Caicedo averaging 2.3 tackles per 90 minutes and Fernandez contributing 0.36 assists per 90 in the Premier League. Cole Palmer operates as a roaming playmaker, often drifting from the right wing to central areas, creating 12 big chances in 2024/25. New signing Liam Delap, a powerful striker from Manchester City’s academy, is expected to lead the line, offering physicality and goal-scoring threat (3 goals in limited Premier League minutes). Chelsea’s defense, anchored by Levi Colwill and Tosin Adarabioyo, improved significantly, with Marc Cucurella’s versatility at left-back adding dynamism. Their high defensive line could be tested by LAFC’s pacey wingers, but their superior quality should dominate possession and chance creation.

Chelsea team news and injuries

Enzo Maresca has a near full-strength squad, with new signings Liam Delap, Dário Essugo, and Mamadou Sarr potentially debuting. However, Christopher Nkunku is a major doubt, having missed the final training session before the match, alongside Marc Guiu, Josh Acheampong, and Aaron Anselmino. Centre-back Lorenzo Dellavalle and midfielder Odin Thiago Holm (on loan from Celtic) are confirmed absentees due to injuries. Cole Palmer, Moises Caicedo, and Enzo Fernández are expected to start, with Romeo Lavia set to anchor the midfield. Youngsters Andrey Santos and Kendry Páez could see minutes, with Santos scoring 10 goals on loan at Strasbourg and Páez impressing for Ecuador.

Predicted Chelsea XI (4-3-3): Sánchez; James, Adarabioyo, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez, Lavia; Palmer, Delap, Neto

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LAFC team form

LAFC secured their Club World Cup spot with a dramatic 2-1 extra-time victory over Club América in a play-in match on May 31, 2025, thanks to a decisive goal from Denis Bouanga. As runners-up in the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League, LAFC are one of three MLS representatives, alongside Inter Miami and Seattle Sounders. In the 2025 MLS season, LAFC have been competitive, with Bouanga scoring eight goals in 15 matches, building on his 25- and 21-goal hauls in prior seasons. The team’s attacking output is led by Bouanga, who has 81 goals for LAFC, closing in on Carlos Vela’s club record of 93. However, LAFC’s reliance on Bouanga and a lack of squad depth compared to European giants like Chelsea make them underdogs. Their play-in win showed resilience, but they face a steep challenge against a Premier League powerhouse.

LAFC tactical analysis

Managed by Steve Cherundolo since 2022, LAFC also favor a 4-3-3, built around quick transitions and wing play. Denis Bouanga is the focal point, operating on the left wing with 2.1 successful dribbles per 90 and a knack for cutting inside to score. Nathan Ordaz, a homegrown striker, has often started over Olivier Giroud, who has been used as an impact substitute, scoring 3 goals in MLS this season. Giroud’s experience (39 goals in 119 Chelsea appearances) could be crucial against his former club, though he has only scored once in 16 career games against Chelsea. In midfield, Timothy Tillman and Ilie Sánchez provide work rate but lack the technical precision to match Chelsea’s engine room. LAFC’s defense, led by captain Aaron Long and veteran goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, is solid but vulnerable to sustained pressure, having conceded in 10 of their last 15 MLS matches. Their counter-attacking style will aim to exploit Chelsea’s high line, but they may struggle to maintain possession.

LAFC team news and injuries

Steve Cherundolo has a fully fit squad, with no reported injuries. Denis Bouanga is the key attacking threat, supported by Nathan Ordaz up top and Mateusz Bogusz on the right. Olivier Giroud is likely to start on the bench but could feature against his former club. Hugo Lloris, the former Tottenham goalkeeper, will be in goal, bringing experience but facing a stern test. LAFC’s depth is limited, and Cherundolo may rely on substitutes like Giroud and Kei Kamara to change the game late.

Predicted LAFC XI (4-3-3): Lloris; Palencia, Long, Murillo, Hollingshead; Tillman, Sánchez, O’Brien; Bogusz, Ordaz, Bouanga.

Chelsea vs LAFC head-to-head statistics

Chelsea and LAFC have never met competitively, as this is their first encounter. However, historical context provides some insight: Chelsea have faced MLS sides in friendlies, including a 2-1 win over Club América in 2022 and a 4-2 victory against New York Red Bulls in 2015. They are unbeaten against MLS opposition in recent years. LAFC’s only notable competitive match against a European side was a 3-0 loss to Bayern Munich in a 2019 friendly. Their play-in win over Club América shows they can compete with CONCACAF giants, but European clubs present a different challenge. Again, Giroud has faced Chelsea 16 times in his career, scoring just one goal (for Arsenal in 2017), suggesting he may struggle to make an impact against his former club.

Chelsea vs LAFC score prediction

Chelsea are overwhelming favorites, with the Opta supercomputer giving them a 93.3% chance of advancing from Group D, compared to LAFC’s 35.4%. Chelsea’s superior squad depth, attacking firepower, and defensive organization should overpower LAFC, who rely heavily on Bouanga’s individual brilliance. LAFC’s counter-attacking threat could trouble Chelsea’s high line, but their lack of midfield control and defensive resilience will likely be exposed. Cole Palmer’s creativity and Liam Delap’s debut eagerness should give Chelsea the edge in a comfortable victory.

Predicted Scoreline: Chelsea 3-1 LAFC. Chelsea are expected to dominate possession and create multiple chances, but LAFC’s chances of an upset are slim. However, an alternative result could end in a goaless draw.