Fresh from securing their long-awaited UEFA Champions League crown, Paris Saint-Germain have arrived in the United States with their sights firmly set on adding a fifth trophy to their remarkable season — the FIFA Club World Cup.
Rather than treating the expanded tournament as an afterthought following a grueling campaign, PSG view it as a major objective.
“I think it is an incredible competition,” said head coach Luis Enrique shortly after PSG’s 5-0 demolition of Inter Milan in the Champions League final two weeks ago. “Our aim is to be competitive and try to win a fifth trophy of the season.”
That dominant win in Munich delivered the French giants their first-ever Champions League title — a breakthrough moment after years of near-misses and astronomical spending on global stars such as Neymar and Kylian Mbappé. As captain Marquinhos finally lifted the trophy, it marked a historic milestone not just for the club, but for French football.
“We’ve made history — for the club, for the city, for the whole country,” defender Lucas Hernandez told L’Équipe after the team’s jubilant parade down the Champs-Élysées, a presidential reception with Emmanuel Macron, and celebrations with nearly 50,000 fans at the Parc des Princes.
Now, with all domestic trophies already secured, PSG have played 58 matches this season — but the focus remains sharp. There’s no time to rest.
Several players, including Champions League breakout star Désiré Doué, were on international duty just days ago before rejoining the squad for the trip to Los Angeles, where PSG open their Club World Cup campaign on June 15 against Atletico Madrid at the iconic Rose Bowl.
“The tournament is a really attractive prospect,” Enrique told FIFA.com. “We have to balance the physical and mental fatigue from the long season with the excitement of playing on this global stage.”
Following Atletico, PSG will face Brazilian champions Botafogo and then MLS side Seattle Sounders in Group B. They’re widely expected to reach the knockout rounds and could end up playing seven matches in total, with the final scheduled for July 13 in New York — just a month before their UEFA Super Cup clash with Tottenham Hotspur.
Squad depth could be tested. Star forward Ousmane Dembélé, the club’s top scorer with 33 goals this season, is nursing an injury sustained during international play. Complicating matters, PSG weren’t able to strengthen their squad during the short pre-tournament transfer window.
Yet, the stakes are high. A top finish could see PSG earn up to US$125 million (S$160 million) in prize money — a record payday that provides both motivation and momentum as they chase global glory to cap off a historic season.
