Chelsea’s Club World Cup Legacy: Can They Join the Elite?

Updated:
Chelsea’s Club World Cup Legacy: Can They Join the Elite?

Affiliate Disclosure : We earn a commission from partners links on BetterGambling. Commissions do not affect our editors' reviews, recommendations, or ratings.

As Chelsea builds their reputation as a global football powerhouse, the question many fans are asking is if the Blues can solidify their position among football’s global elite.

To understand if it’s possible, let’s have a closer look at Chelsea’s history in the tournament, what lifting the trophy would mean, and how the current betting odds compare to all of their past campaigns.

Chelsea’s International Story: A Quick Look

Chelsea’s rise as a European and also a global powerhouse is not new because the club has gathered an impressive trophy over the long run. These trophies are:

Competition Titles Won Years Won
UEFA Champions League 2 2012, 2021
First Division/Premier League 6 1955, 2005, 2006, 2010, 2015, 2017
FA Cup 8 1970, 1997, 2000, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2018
League Cup 5 1965, 1998, 2005, 2007, 2015
UEFA Europa League 2 2013, 2019
UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup 2 1971, 1998
UEFA Conference League 1 2023
FIFA Club World Cup 1 2021
UEFA Super Cup 2 1998, 2021
Charity/Community Shield 4 1955, 2000, 2005, 2009
Full Members’ Cup 2 1986, 1990

Chelsea’s first FIFA Club World Cup win was in 2021, marking a big achievement in their international journey. Additionally, this victory placed them alongside Europe’s top football clubs like Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, who have won multiple Club World Cup titles.

Chelsea’s FIFA Club World Cup Record

While Chelsea has not had that many appearances in the FIFA Club World Cup, each appearance has been somewhat good. Below is a summary of their performances:

Year Stage Reached Result Odds to Win (UK Bookmakers)
2012 Final Runner-up (Lost to Corinthians) 7/1
2021 Winners Champions (Beat Palmeiras) 5/1

Chelsea’s 2021 win was a great achievement; they showed their ability to compete on a global stage and win.

The 2025 Campaign: What’s Next for Chelsea?

Chelsea remains the club from the Premier League in the 2025 Club World Cup after Manchester City’s early exit. Chelsea’s strong international reputation comes from performing well in different competitions. While they’re now competing in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, it’s their overall form this season that shows how strong they really are.

In the 2024/25 Premier League, Chelsea finished in the top four, proving they’ve improved under new management. They also won the UEFA Conference League in 2023, adding to their success in Europe and showing they’re a serious team on the world stage.

As the new season continues, Chelsea will need to manage both local league matches and big international games. Their deep squad, flexible tactics, and experience in big matches make them strong challengers, not just in the Club World Cup but in all competitions.

Bookmakers currently have Chelsea among the favourites to win the Club World Cup, showing trust in their all-around quality, not just one-off results.

What Would a Win Mean for Chelsea’s Legacy?

Winning the Club World Cup again would solidify Chelsea’s status as a global football powerhouse. Compared to other elite football clubs:

Club Club World Cup Titles UEFA Champions League Titles Total Major International Titles
Real Madrid 5 14 19
Bayern Munich 4 6 10
Barcelona 3 5 8
Chelsea 2 (potentially 3) 2 6 (potentially 7)

Lifting the Club World Cup trophy a second time is sure to place Chelsea higher among the top football clubs in the world, improving their brand value and appeal to global fans and sponsors.

Comparing the Odds for 2025

The expanded 2025 tournament began with 32 teams from around the world, including a strong group from Europe.

This format change brought even more variables while increasing the prestige and challenge. Many betting markets have already positioned the European heavyweights from the start as the primary contenders.

According to various bookmakers, Chelsea remains one of the leading favourites, but they face tough competition. As of the start of July 2025, their odds place them among the top teams. Here’s a look at how the odds compare to some of their other major contenders in 2025:

Club Confederation Example Odds (July 2025) Implied probability
PSG UEFA 2/1 (+200) 33.3%
Chelsea UEFA 4/1 (+400) 20.0%
Real Madrid UEFA 9/2 (+450) 18.2%
Bayern Munich UEFA 11/2 (+550) 15.4%
Al Hilal Riyadh AFC 11/1 (+1100) 8.3%

These odds suggest that while PSG is slightly more favoured to win, Chelsea is still a very strong contender for the trophy, rated ahead of European giants like Real Madrid and Bayern Munich by some bookmakers.

Their implied probability of around 20% highlights the competitive nature of the tournament, even for all the top teams remaining in the competition.

Can Chelsea Join the Football Elite?

Chelsea’s journey in the FIFA Club World Cup is a part of their rise in world football. With a strong legacy already established and their proven track record in major competitions, the Blues stand a chance to join the elite clubs with multiple global titles.

Reference

Peter writes for the curious bettor—the one who wonders why the odds changed right after they clicked. His work unpacks patterns most sportsbooks would rather stay hidden, including profiling tactics and reward throttling for winning players.