STORY: Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain fans gathered in competing venues in Midtown Manhattan on Saturday (July 12), the night before their sides will face off in the final of the Club World Cup.

The fan groups featured a mix of Americans who had grown to love the clubs over the years, New York transplants who left London and Paris behind, and others who travelled to New York to see their club perform on the other side of the pond.

The Club World Cup being played on United States soil meant it was the first time for many of the fans gathered at the events to see their team in person.

Chelsea fans recognized they were the underdogs going into the final, but said they expected to cheer their side to an upset win.

PSG fans, buoyed by the club’s Champions League win just six weeks ago, said they were confident they would bring home even more hardware to cap off a historic season.

The European giants will face each other in the tournament's finale at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Sunday (July 13).

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (JULY 12, 2025) (REUTERS – Access all)

1. CHELSEA FANS GATHERED AT LEGENDS BAR IN MIDTOWN MANHATTAN

2. CHELSEA FLAGS OUTSIDE BAR

3. VARIOUS OF CHELSEA FANS DRINKING BEER AT OUTSIDE PATIO BAR

4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHELSEA FAN AND NEW YORK RESIDENT, JORDAN HABER, SAYING:

“It’s a bit surreal because at this point – I mean, I’ve been to two games in Philly. This is going to be my second game in New York City. And we’re just taking the train over. It feels like we’re going to the bar, just like every single day, and then you realize, ‘Oh, yeah, it’s a real game. It’s a big game. And you’re just hanging out with the same people every single week. It’s really, really nice.”

5. VARIOUS OF CHELSEA FANS GATHERED AT BAR

6. SIGN ON BAR WINDOW READING (English) “LEGENDS NYC BAR & GRILL”

7. VARIOUS OF CHELSEA FANS AT BAR

8. (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHELSEA FAN AND NEW YORK RESIDENT, SKYLAR MCCLANE, SAYING:

“It’s extremely exciting. Especially because normally, you have to go across the ocean to get all the way to London to go to a game. And so, to have it in our backyard, to represent, it’s very exciting for us here in New York.”

9. VARIOUS OF CHELSEA FANS AT BAR

10. BUNTING FOR THE CLUB WORLD CUP

11. VARIOUS OF FIFA LEGEND AND FORMER CHELSEA PLAYER, CLAUDE MAKELELE, ARRIVING TO BAR

12. FANS TAKING PICTURES OF MAKELELE

13. (SOUNDBITE) (English) RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY, RESIDENT, ORIGINALLY FROM LONDON, GARRY HAYES, SAYING:

“Yeah because look, a lot of people will criticize Americans and say they don’t understand it but the guys who come here, they get it. They get what Chelsea is. They understand what the club represents. They know the history of the club. They’re a passionate fanbase. If they were living in London, they’d be going to games. The only reason they don’t go to games is because geographically, they can’t. So these guys, they know Chelsea inside out. They love it. Their passion is true. They’ve learned the songs. They sing the songs. And being at Legends on a Saturday is just like being on the terraces of Stamford Bridge. These guys love it. And just because they speak with a different accent, it doesn’t mean they don’t love it like the people who speak with my accent.”

14. SIGN FOR PSG NEW YORK FAN CLUB POSTED AT THE T-SQUARED SOCIAL BAR IN MIDTOWN MANHATTAN

15. VARIOUS OF PSG FANS AT BAR

16. PSG FANS HOLDING UP SCARVES

17. FANS AT BAR

18. FANS PLAYING SIMULATION SOCCER GAME

19. VARIOUS OF FANS AT BAR

20. (SOUNDBITE) (French) PSG FAN VISITING FROM PARIS, JULIA AMIN, SAYING:

“We're very excited. We're going to win, there's no doubt. There’s no doubt, PSG will win the Cup and they will break all the records. This year, we're going to win all the cups.”

21. PSG FANS

22. FANS PLAYING FOOSBALL

23. FANS WITH BANNER FOR SEATTLE FAN CLUB

24. PSG FANS AT BAR

25. (SOUNDBITE) (English) FRENCH-AMERICAN, NEW YORK RESIDENT, JULIAN STEIN, SAYING:

“It’s not the first time PSG have played in New York in the last 15 years or so, but it’s the (Club World Cup) final. So, people are motivated. Especially after the season we had this year. We’re living a bit of a childhood dream right now.”

26. VARIOUS OF FAN WITH PSG WRITTEN ON HIS SHIRT WITH COLORS OF THE AMERICAN FLAG

27. PSG FANS AT BAR

28. VARIOUS OF PSG FANS SINGING