Chelsea Faces Scorching Heat at Club World Cup, Training Routines Disrupted in Philadelphia

Chelsea Grapples with Relentless Heat at the Club World Cup

Most footballers expect to sweat it out on the pitch, but Chelsea’s experience in Philadelphia during the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup has taken that to a whole new level. It’s not the opposition proving toughest so far—it's the brutal U.S. summer. Manager Enzo Maresca didn’t mince words, calling the near-unbearable heat “almost impossible” for proper training. Stepping outside felt more like stepping into an oven than prepping for a world-class tournament.

The sweltering temperatures have completely upended Chelsea’s typical training routine. Instead of running intensive tactical drills or working on match sharpness, players found themselves forced to scale back and conserve their energy. That’s no small problem in a tournament where every margin counts. Maresca had to make real-time decisions—shorter sessions, more inside recovery, constant hydration. Forget peaking at the perfect moment; at times, it seemed survival was the real goal.

The situation got so severe that some sessions barely happened at all. With the sun beating down and heat indexes soaring, staff and players faced a real risk of heat-related illnesses. Teams tried to adjust, kicking off practices at dawn or after dark, but the humidity hung heavy at all hours. “The conditions are almost impossible,” Maresca put it bluntly. The players could barely get a true feel for the pitch or work through game plans without risk of exhaustion.

Ups and Downs on the Field, Focus on Performance

Despite the chaos off the pitch, Chelsea turned it on when it mattered. They bounced back from a disappointing 3-1 loss to Flamengo by blanking Espérance Sportive de Tunis 3-0. That win didn’t just keep their tournament hopes alive—it showed the squad’s depth and resilience amid adversity. Watching the players power through in almost 40-degree heat added another layer to the victory.

Behind the scenes, there’s been no added stress from Chelsea’s board. While most clubs see big tournaments as a way to boost revenue, club owner Todd Boehly and the Clearlake Capital group have steered clear of pushing for quick cash grabs. The message is clear: performance on the pitch outranks any thoughts of Club World Cup prize money. That’s somewhat rare at this level, especially given the high-stakes and potential windfalls of global tournaments.

The focus stays on football, but real questions are bubbling under the surface about player safety and peak readiness. Limiting training is one thing; maintaining form and avoiding injuries in knockout matches is another. Some players are reportedly frustrated, wishing they could get the work in, but nobody wants anyone collapsing from heat stress.

As Philadelphia continues to bake under the summer sun, teams and organizers alike are taking a fresh look at how scheduling and location can impact elite tournaments. For Chelsea, the battle isn’t just against their next opponent—it’s against the weather, every day of the week.