Aksel Kryhlmand
We shouldn’t be talking about this right now. Let’s wait until the end of the tournament to assess it properly
Chelsea got their FIFA Club World Cup campaign off to a winning start on Monday, defeating Los Angeles FC (LAFC) 2-0 at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
But the football on display was overshadowed by an eerily quiet setting, as the 71,000-seat venue was sparsely populated, with only 22,137 fans in attendance.
Routine Win
Under new manager Enzo Maresca, Chelsea controlled proceedings comfortably, with goals from Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernández securing three points. Despite LAFC creating several half-chances, the MLS side lacked the final-third sharpness to mount a serious threat.
Maresca acknowledged the strange atmosphere post-match, telling reporters:
The environment was a bit strange. The stadium was almost empty. You have to adapt, whether it’s full or not.
The 3 p.m. weekday kickoff and the 1,900-mile distance from LAFC’s home base in Los Angeles contributed to the underwhelming turnout. Even slashed ticket prices on game day made little difference.
Mixed Reactions on the Atmosphere
While Maresca took the low turnout in stride, LAFC coach Steve Cherundolo urged patience before judging the event’s appeal
We shouldn’t be talking about this right now. Let’s wait until the end of the tournament to assess it properly.
Chelsea now turn their focus to Flamengo, their next opponent in Philadelphia on Friday, where Maresca is expecting a more vibrant crowd:
Brazilian teams always bring many, many fans.
Elsewhere in the Club World Cup
Benfica 2-2 Boca Juniors
A far livelier affair unfolded later in the day at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, where 55,574 fans, mostly vocal Boca Juniors supporters, watched a thrilling 2-2 draw against Benfica.
Boca raced to a 2-0 lead with goals from Miguel Merentiel and Rodrigo Battaglia. Ángel Di María pulled one back for Benfica with a penalty just before halftime.
In a heated second half, three red cards were handed out, including one to Andrea Belotti and Boca’s Nicolás Figal Benfica salvaged the draw via Nicolás Otamendi in the 84th minute.
Flamengo 2-0 ES Tunis: Business as Usual
Brazil’s Flamengo enjoyed a comfortable 2-0 victory over ES Tunis in Philadelphia, with 25,797 fans in attendance at the 67,000-capacity Lincoln Financial Field.
What’s Next?
The expanded Club World Cup has already delivered a taste of both extremes of dominance and dramatic chaos. Chelsea will be keen to build on their winning start, while Flamengo and Boca continue to underline the passionate support South American clubs bring to the tournament.
As the competition progresses, questions about venue choices and scheduling may linger, but on the field, the battle for global supremacy is heating up.