Chelsea Begins FIFA Club World Cup Campaign vs LAFC with Delap Debut Expected

Chelsea are set to begin their FIFA Club World Cup campaign against Major League Soccer's Los Angeles FC, with the match taking place at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Newly signed striker Liam Delap, acquired for £30 million from Ipswich Town, is poised to make his Chelsea debut, although he was named on the bench for the opening match, with Nicolas Jackson leading the attack. Manager Enzo Maresca has opted for a strong starting lineup featuring key players such as Reece James as captain, Tosin Adarabioyo and Levi Colwill in central defense, and Marc Cucurella at left-back, while midfield includes Romeo Lavia and Moises Caicedo. Delap and other recent signings like Mike Penders, Mamadou Sarr, and Dario Essugo have been involved in training and are expected to play roles as the tournament progresses. Chelsea's recent successes include winning the UEFA Conference League and finishing fourth in the Premier League, and they are favorites to advance beyond the group stage. The team aims to build on this momentum and contend seriously for the Club World Cup title, with Maresca focusing on strong performances from the start.