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Chelsea win FIFA Club World Cup™
English Premier League side beat Palmeiras late in extra time as European teams continue to dominate.
The FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2021™, presented by Alibaba Cloud, was delayed until February 2022 due to the knock-on effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The title went to a European side for the ninth time in a row as Chelsea beat South American champions Palmeiras 2-1 late in extra time of the final. In fact, Chelsea had been the last European side to lose in the final, when they were beaten by Palmeiras’ neighbours Corinthians back in 2012.
Palmeiras became the eighth Brazilian team to reach the final thanks to Raphael Veiga and Dudu scoring either side of half-time to give them a 2-0 semi-final win over CAF champions Al Ahly, who had eliminated Concacaf champions Monterrey with a 1-0 win in the second round.
Meanwhile, Chelsea overcame AFC champions Al Hilal – who had previously beaten Al Jazira from the host nation – thanks to the match’s only goal, scored by Belgium forward Romelu Lukaku after half an hour of their semi-final.
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Lukaku struck again when he headed in Callum Hudson-Odoi’s cross to put Chelsea ahead in the 54th minute of the final at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium. But Palmeiras, given impressive backing throughout the tournament by a large contingent of supporters who had travelled to Abu Dhabi from various parts of the world, levelled ten minutes later with a penalty converted by Veiga.
The game appeared to be heading for penalties until Kai Havertz converted a penalty, awarded for handball, with three minutes remaining in extra time. Al Ahly beat Al Hilal 4-0 to win the third-place play-off.
Real Madrid, with four titles, are the competition’s most successful team followed by Barcelona with three and Corinthians and Bayern Munich with two apiece.
“I’ve waited 37 years for this moment. I’ve made a lot of sacrifices for this. It’s so, so difficult to become a world champion. I’m really happy. We’re all really happy.”
Awards
adidas Golden Ball: Thiago Silva (Chelsea)
adidas Silver Ball: Dudu (Palmeiras)
adidas Bronze Ball: Danilo (Palmeiras)
Alibaba Cloud Award: Thiago Silva
FIFA Fair Play Trophy: Chelsea
Away from the pitch
FIFA and the World Health Organization (WHO) ran a special campaign throughout the FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2021, encouraging football fans, world leaders and policymakers to work together to end the COVID-19 pandemic.
The #ACTogether campaign encouraged people to get vaccinated and keep following public health measures daily to prevent the spread of COVID-19. It also appealed to world leaders and policymakers to support the WHO’s Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator, an initiative aimed at providing fair access to COVID-19 vaccines, treatments and diagnostics.
The #ACTogether branding was displayed on pitchside perimeter boards and the campaign video was played on giant screens at the stadiums.
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“I think it’s so important for the fight against COVID-19 that everyone gets the same access to the vaccines.”