Club World Cup: Chelsea vs LAFC Betting Preview for Irish Players 2025

The FIFA Club World Cup got underway in the USA at the weekend, with Chelsea flying the flag for the English Premier League alongside Manchester City at the 32-team bonanza. The 2021 Champions League winners have a favourable-looking draw in Group D, avoiding European opposition, and they kick off their campaign against MLS side Los Angeles FC on Monday evening. 

The Blues became the first team to win every major European trophy when lifting the Europa Conference League last month, and they are among the favourites to add another international trophy to their haul, having won the old version of this competition in 2021. LAFC, contrastingly, had no clue they’d be competing until a month ago, winning a hastily arranged ‘play-in’ tie against Mexican side América after compatriots León were removed from the tournament. They are a good way into their season already and sit fifth in the Western Conference of the MLS. 

LAFC have been granted a four-game break from their season to allow Steve Cherundolo and his men to fully focus on their opportunity to stake their name amongst the big hitters of European football. We’ve taken a look at the betting markets to bring you our three best bets on Monday’s tie for you below. 

Where can I watch Chelsea vs LAFC in the 2025 Club World Cup?

Football fans in Ireland can watch each and every game at the Club World Cup for free on DAZN. All you have to do is sign up for an account, with the channel being available on your Smart TV, desktop, smartphone or tablet. You should also be able to stream the games on your chosen betting platform, but please check before placing any wagers! Now, let's take a look at our top picks when it comes to football betting sites:

Tip One - Over 3.5 Goals (5/4 With bet365)

This match-up is a fascinating one, as it gives an MLS side a rare opportunity to test themselves against a European giant in a competitive setting. 

With around €100 million on offer to the winners, it’s almost certain that Chelsea will take this seriously. The Blues are well-versed in the challenge of playing against minnows from their Conference League campaign, scoring 26 goals in their six-game league phase. With no major injury concerns, it would be a surprise should their star-studded front line struggle to break down an LAFC defence that has been breached on 23 occasions in 16 MLS games this term. The Blues have been involved in games with more than 3.5 goals on eight occasions so far this year, and it would be no surprise should they look to make a statement here, particularly when you consider that they scored four goals in a European final last month. 

A high-scoring victory would immediately put Chelsea in a strong position to get out of their group, and they are fancied to hit the ground running against their American hosts, with the 5/4 on offer with bet365 for over 3.5 goals looking more than fair.

As an ex-Chelsea player, this one feels written in the stars. At 11/1, it’s nothing to rely on, but if you’re all about staking down for an enjoyable watch, this one’s a must. I can hear the commentary now, “It’s Bouanga on the free kick, can he whip it in for Giroud, he can! And he’s knocked it down with his head in typical Giroud fashion, it’s game on here at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium”. Or something along those lines. In all seriousness, although Giroud has only scored in three games this calendar year for LAFC, his career has told us time and time again that he scores when it matters. When you’ve got a rifle of a header in your bank, you’re going to be a nuisance all game for Chelsea’s back four. He’s no guarantee to start, but his price of 11-1 to be first goalscorer feels big, particularly as he’s a standout presence in this LAFC side. 

I can see Chelsea completely dominating this game. And if you want a combination bet with Giroud involved as first-goalscorer as well, you can stick him on the end of this. Chelsea obviously has some serious talent in their team and is among Europe's finest. Whilst LAFC do have some skilful players on their roster, their key players are coming to the end of their careers. This mix of experience and youth is great for MLS competitions, but the likelihood of Chelsea outplaying LAFC is considerable. The Blues triumphed by this score twice in May alone and the 14/1 available for a three-peat feels generous, particularly when you note that LAFC have veteran Hugo Lloris in goal. The American side has enough quality to hurt Chelsea on the break and, provided they can pinch a goal, you can grab a nice price by siding with a 4-1 Chelsea victory. 

Sports Expert's Thoughts on This Game

This game has more to it than you think. With LAFC currently being halfway through an impressive season so far, and Chelsea having the potential to over-exhaust their squad post-Europa Conference final, the factors at play here are enough to cross the wires of any Irish punter. The American side has the tools to hurt Chelsea going forward, but I expect the Blues to prove too strong for their hosts in the end. Happy punting!