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Chelsea Begin Club World Cup with Win Amid Sparse Crowd

Posted : 17 June 2025

Chelsea began their FIFA Club World Cup journey with a 2-0 victory over Los Angeles FC, but the subdued atmosphere at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta stole some of the spotlight. With kickoff set for 3pm on a working Monday, tens of thousands of seats remained empty as only 22,137 spectators showed up to a venue capable of holding 71,000.

 

 The stadium’s top tier was closed, and large portions of the lower bowl were visibly unoccupied, giving the opening match a lackluster feel in what was expected to be a showcase event.

 

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca commented on the unusual environment, acknowledging the quiet backdrop while urging professionalism from his squad. “The stadium was almost empty, not full,” he said. “We are professional and we have to adapt to the situation, to the environment.”

 

Though the match featured a strong performance from the Premier League side, the subdued crowd muted the celebratory energy usually expected at such international tournaments.

 

Ticket prices may have contributed to the low turnout. The cheapest seats hovered around £37 just before kickoff and dropped to £26 during the match, but prices had been significantly higher earlier in the week. Despite LAFC’s distant location—over 2,000 miles from Atlanta—around 150 dedicated ultras from the MLS club created most of the atmosphere. Meanwhile, Chelsea fans offered intermittent cheers, primarily reacting to goals, key decisions, and the debut of Liam Delap.

 

This opening match serves as a test for the United States ahead of next year’s international World Cup, which it will co-host with Canada and Mexico. FIFA reportedly anticipated a crowd closer to 26,000, but the turnout raised concerns about public interest in the newly expanded Club World Cup.

 

As the tournament continues, organizers will be watching attendance figures closely to gauge how well the U.S. is prepared to host global football on the grandest stage.

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