Chelsea’s Club World Cup opener in Atlanta had all the makings of a solid victory, but the spectacle unfolding at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium felt strangely subdued.
Despite the glamour associated with the Premier League giants, only 22,137 fans turned up in a stadium built to hold 75,000. The Monday 3 pm kickoff, paired with a $50 ticket price, proved to be a tough sell. It was a less-than-ideal visual for FIFA, especially given Atlanta United’s typical MLS crowds average over 44,000. For a tournament that reportedly cost DAZN close to $1 billion in broadcast rights, the sparse attendance was hard to ignore.
But Chelsea were unfazed. Their focus remained firmly on the field, not the empty seats, as Enzo Maresca’s side claimed a 2-0 win over Los Angeles FC.
Chelsea’s Quality Shines Through
Pedro Neto opened the scoring with a classy finish after a well-timed pass from Nicolas Jackson, who looked sharp throughout. Enzo Fernandez sealed the win in the 79th minute, finishing off a move started by substitute Liam Delap, the club’s £30 million summer signing who made his debut off the bench.
Maresca opted for a strong starting XI, resisting the temptation to experiment too much in his competitive debut. Jackson, who was Chelsea’s go-to striker last season, showed flashes of quality early, including a clever spin move that left defender Eddie Segura trailing. Only a strong save from former Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris denied him.
While Jackson’s role may no longer be guaranteed, his creative link-up play was on display. He set up Noni Madueke for a prime opportunity midway through the first half, though the winger fired directly at Lloris.
Cole Palmer also tested the French goalkeeper from distance, his curling shot deflected just enough to land on the roof of the net.
LAFC Bring on Firepower, But Chelsea Hold Firm
LAFC, part-owned by Hollywood names like Will Ferrell and Magic Johnson, turned to familiar faces after halftime. Former Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud came off the bench but found himself shirtless and waiting on the sidelines due to a kit delay. This bizarre moment briefly paused play and annoyed Chelsea’s players.
LAFC pushed harder in the second half, with David Martinez and Denis Bouanga both threatening. But Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez made two critical saves to maintain the lead.
The night ultimately belonged to Delap and Fernandez. The 64th-minute substitute wasted no time making an impression, charging forward before delivering a pinpoint assist to Fernandez, who made no mistake from close range.
A Win with Caveats
Chelsea walk away with three points and a clean sheet, a job well done on paper. But for FIFA and tournament organisers, the bigger story may be the empty stands. For a competition aiming to elevate its global prestige, this opener offered more questions than answers.
Still, Maresca will be satisfied. His team was composed, clinical, and got the job done. For Chelsea, it’s the result that matters, even if few were there to witness it.
