Chelsea will play LAFC in the FIFA Club World Cup group stage this summer after the MLS side won a play-off to reach the competition.
LAFC defeated Mexican side Club America 2-1 after extra-time, with ex-Blues man Olivier Giroud setting up the winner in California.
Initially, Chelsea had been scheduled to face Mexican side Club Leon in the group phase, but they were expelled from the competition due to the tournament’s regulations on multi-club ownership.
Club Leon had defeated LAFC in the 2023 Concacaf Champions League final to reach the tournament, and the MLS side were therefore pitted against Club America – the highest-ranked team behind Leon in confederation ranking who did not qualify – for a one-off match to replace the Mexican side.
LAFC will face Chelsea in their opening game of the tournament, which is to be held in the United States.
In the meantime, it has emerged that the Blues have moved one step closer to finalising their first signing of the summer.
As per Fabrizio Romano, Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap has completed the first part of his medical ahead of a proposed move to Chelsea.
Delap is set to join Chelsea this summer (Photo: PA Images/Alamy)
The Italian journalist claims that the player has completed the first part of his medical, with formal steps to follow in the coming days ahead of the move.
Delap, 22, joined the Tractor Boys from Manchester City last summer, having struggled to break into the first team at The Etihad.
He enjoyed a stellar debut season at Portman Road, though, scoring 12 times in 37 Premier League matches for Kieran McKenna’s side.
While he was unable to prevent Ipswich from being relegated back down to the Championship, Delap’s impressive form in front of goal appears to have earned him a move to Stamford Bridge.