Joao Pedro Brace Sends Chelsea to Club World Cup Final on Full Debut

In a stunning debut, Joao Pedro scored a brace to propel Chelsea into the Club World Cup final with a 2-0 victory over his former club Fluminense. The Brazilian forward, signed from Brighton just six days ago for around £60 million, marked his first competitive start in emphatic fashion at MetLife Stadium, ensuring Chelsea will face either Real Madrid or PSG in Sunday’s final.

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Pedro wasted no time, curling home a spectacular strike in the 18th minute before doubling the lead early in the second half with a powerful finish. Despite his emotional ties to Fluminense, where he began his career, the 23‑year‑old showed both respect and professionalism, opting not to celebrate against his boyhood club. Manager Enzo Maresca couldn’t hide his delight, praising João Pedro for decisively filling the void left by the suspended Liam Delap.

Maresca hailed the performance as “something to be proud of,” highlighting the challenge of balancing their trophy chase this season, the Premier League top four, Conference League, and now a World Cup final. João Pedro himself called it a “dream first start” and expressed gratitude toward Fluminense while respecting his new professional path.

Chelsea now await the winner of PSG vs Real Madrid for the July 12 final. With £25 million already secured by reaching the final, and more on offer for the title, the club’s investment in Pedro looks justified. His immediate impact suggests he could be the missing spark in Maresca’s firepower-packed squad.