Chelsea's strong start to the season under manager Enzo Maresca and his young squad could provide a glimpse of one of the underdogs in the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup.
The tournament will now be a true 32-team event, like recent editions of the international World Cup, and will be held in the United States next summer.
With a strong squad and momentum at the moment, Chelsea needs only a good group stage draw, and the 2021 Champions League winners could be something to watch.
So who will they face first?
Which pot is Chelsea in?
They are in Pot 2 of 4, which means Borussia Dortmund, Inter Milan, FC Porto, Atlético Madrid, Benfica, Juventus, and Salzburg will not be in their group.
How do the Club World Cup pots work?
Each Club World Cup group will consist of one team in Pot 1, one in Pot 2, one in Pot 3, and one in Pot 4 from each of Pots 1, 3, and 4.
Who could face Chelsea in the Club World Cup?
Unless FIFA bans teams from the same country from playing together, Manchester City are in Pot 1 and a Premier League clash could be on the cards, as well as a repeat of Chelsea's Champions League final in 2021.
Pot 1 also includes Bayern Munich, who Chelsea beat to win their next (and first) Champions League in 2012, and Palmeiras, who the Londoners beat in the 2021 Club World Cup final.
If Chelsea draws Inter Miami, it will have to reunite with several players who featured in classic clashes between them and Barcelona in the years 2000 and 2010, including Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, and coach Javier Mascherano—not to mention Luis Suarez, who replaced Branislav Ivanovic.
Pots is the World Cup of Clubs to be completed
pot 1: Manchester City, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, PSG, Flamengo, Palmeiras, River Plate, Fluminense
pot 2: Chelsea, Borussia Dortmund, Inter Milan, FC Porto, Atlético, Juventus, Salzburg
pot 3: Al Hilal, Ulsan HD, Al Ahly, Wydad Casablanca, Monterrey, León, Boca Juniors, Botafogo
pot 4: Urawa Red Diamonds, Al Ain, Hope of Tunis, Mamelodi Sundowns, Pachuca, Seattle Sounders, Auckland City, Inter Miami
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