Joao Pedro scored twice on his Chelsea debut to beat Fluminense 2-0 in New Jersey.
The 24-year-old now leads Chelsea into the FIFA Club World Cup final showdown.
Brazilian forward Joao Pedro made a dream debut for Chelsea, scoring both goals in a 2-0 win over Fluminense in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 semifinal held at MetLife Stadium, New Jersey, on Tuesday.
Facing his boyhood club, the 24-year-old struck in the 18th and 56th minutes to guide the London side into the final, where they will face the winner of the Real Madrid vs. Paris Saint-Germain semifinal.
Pedro joined Chelsea from Brighton last week in an $81.5 million move and wasted no time justifying his fee. The first goal came from the left edge of the box, a curling shot past Fluminense goalkeeper Fabio. The second was a crisp finish off the underside of the bar, capping off a slick counterattack initiated by Cole Palmer and Enzo Fernandez.
Having developed at Fluminense from age 10 and leaving for Watford in 2020, Pedro showed restraint in celebrating both goals out of respect for his former club. After each strike, he muted his celebrations, clasping his hands and pausing briefly before rejoining his teammates.
“This was a special game for me emotionally,” Pedro told reporters post-match. “Fluminense shaped my career, but I’m here to help Chelsea win.”
The match was played in sweltering 34°C heat, with high humidity pushing the temperature to a feel-like of 40°C. Despite the heat, a crowd of 70,556 fans packed the stadium just shy of capacity, helped by FIFA late decision to slash ticket prices from $473.90 to $13.40.
Shortly after Chelsea’s opening goal, VAR overturned a penalty initially awarded to Fluminense for a handball by Trevoh Chalobah. Replays showed Chalobah’s arm was in a natural position, prompting referee intervention and sparking protests from the Brazilian side.
Fluminense’s best chance came in the 27th minute when Marc Cucurella cleared Hercules’s shot off the line. Veteran defender Thiago Silva, 40, lined up against his former Chelsea teammates after returning to Fluminense in October. Despite his experience, Silva and his side were outclassed by Chelsea’s high tempo and sharp passing.
The win books Chelsea a place in their second FIFA Club World Cup final, having lifted the trophy in 2021. With Pedro’s debut brace, they are now favorites to claim another title.
If successful, Chelsea would extend European dominance at the tournament, Europe has won 11 straight titles, with only Corinthians (2012) breaking that run in the last 18 editions.
The club stands to earn between $88.4 million and $103.8 million, depending on FIFA’s final prize and participation fee disclosures.
