The 2021 FIFA Club World Cup final was the final match of the 2021 FIFA Club World Cup, an international club football tournament hosted by United Arab Emirates. It was the 18th final of the FIFA Club World Cup, a FIFA-organised tournament between the club champions from each of the six continental confederations, as well as the host nation's league champions.
 Chelsea team members after becoming champions. | |||||||
| Event | 2021 FIFA Club World Cup | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||
| After extra time | |||||||
| Date | 12 February 2022 | ||||||
| Venue | Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi | ||||||
| Man of the Match | Antonio Rüdiger (Chelsea)[1] | ||||||
| Referee | Chris Beath (Australia)[2] | ||||||
| Attendance | 32,871[3] | ||||||
| Weather | Clear night 23 °C (73 °F) 62% humidity | ||||||
The final was contested by English club Chelsea, representing UEFA as the reigning champions of the UEFA Champions League, and Brazilian club Palmeiras, representing CONMEBOL as the reigning champions of the Copa Libertadores.
The match was played at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on 12 February 2022.[4] The tournament was originally planned to take place in late 2021 in Japan, but was moved to February 2022 in the United Arab Emirates due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.[5]
Chelsea won the match 2–1 after extra time for their first FIFA Club World Cup title.
Teams
editIn the following table, the finals until 2005 were in the FIFA Club World Championship era, and since 2006 in the FIFA Club World Cup era.
| Team | Confederation | Qualification for tournament | Previous club world championship finals (bold indicates winners) |
|---|---|---|---|
 Chelsea
|
UEFA | Winners of the 2020–21 UEFA Champions League | FCWC: 1 (2012) |
 Palmeiras
|
CONMEBOL | Winners of the 2021 Copa Libertadores | IC: 1 (1999) |
Note: On 27 October 2017, FIFA officially recognised all the champions of the Intercontinental Cup as club world champions, in equal status to the FIFA Club World Cup.[6]
- IC: Intercontinental Cup (1960–2004)
- FCWC: FIFA Club World Cup finals (2000, 2005–present)
Background
editChelsea reached their second FIFA Club World Cup Final in two appearances, having done so previously in 2012, which they lost to Corinthians. Chelsea were looking to win their second title of the season, after the 2021 UEFA Super Cup.[7][8]
Palmeiras were competing in the FIFA Club World Cup for the second consecutive time, having finished fourth in 2020. They reached the final for the first time after defeating Al Ahly, who had previously defeated them in the third place playoff in 2020.[9][10]
This was the fourth FIFA Club World Cup Final to be played between English and Brazilian clubs, after 2005, 2012 and 2019, with only the latter being won by the English club.[11]
Route to the final
edit| Chelsea
|
Team | Palmeiras
| ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opponent | Result | 2021 FIFA Club World Cup | Opponent | Result |
 Al Hilal
|
1–0 | Semi-finals |  Al Ahly
|
2–0 |
Chelsea
editChelsea qualified for the tournament as the champions of the UEFA Champions League, having defeated fellow English club Manchester City in the final. Due to their participation in the Club World Cup, two of their Premier League fixtures were rescheduled.[12]
As European champions, Chelsea received a bye to the semi-finals, where they faced Asian champions Al Hilal from Saudi Arabia. The Blues won the match 1–0; Romelu Lukaku scored the only goal of the game in the 32nd minute.[13]
Palmeiras
editPalmeiras entered the tournament as the winners of the Copa Libertadores, defeating another Brazilian club Flamengo after extra time in the final, which took place a few days before the draw for the Club World Cup.[14]
Palmeiras too entered the Club World Cup in the semi-finals stage, where they played African champions Al Ahly of Egypt. Palmeiras won the match 2–0 with goals from Raphael Veiga and Dudu, their first goals in the Club World Cup.[15]
Match
editDetails
edit
          Chelsea
|
    Palmeiras
|
|
Man of the Match:
Assistant referees:[2]
|
Match rules[16]
|
Notes
edit- ^ Each team was given only three opportunities to make substitutions, with a fourth opportunity in extra time, excluding substitutions made at half-time, before the start of extra time and at half-time in extra time.
References
edit- ^ a b "Havertz the hero as Chelsea conquer the world". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 12 February 2022. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f "Chelsea FC – Palmeiras". www.worldfootball.net. 12 February 2022. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
- ^ a b "Chelsea vs. Palmeiras". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 12 February 2022. Archived from the original on 12 February 2022. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
- ^ "FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2021: Match schedule" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 2 January 2022. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
- ^ "FIFA Council endorses global summit to discuss the future of football". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 20 October 2021. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
- ^ "FIFA Council approves key organisational elements of the FIFA World Cup". FIFA.com (Press release). Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 27 October 2017. Retrieved 27 October 2017.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Lukaku goal sends Chelsea to the final". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
- ^ "Romelu Lukaku's first-half strike sends Blues into Club World Cup final". Sky Sports. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
- ^ "Veiga, Dudu propel Palmeiras into final". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
- ^ "Palmeiras beat Al Ahly to reach Club World Cup final". ESPN. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
- ^ "The FIFA Club World Cup final in stats". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original on 12 February 2022. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
- ^ "Two games postponed due to Club World Cup participation". Chelsea Football Club. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
- ^ "Lukaku goal sends Chelsea to the final". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
- ^ "Palmeiras see off Flamengo in extra time to retain Copa Libertadores title". The Guardian. 27 November 2021. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
- ^ "Palmeiras beat Al Ahly to reach Club World Cup final". Reuters. 8 February 2022. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
- ^ "Regulations FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2021" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 29 November 2021. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
External links
edit