Chelsea kicked off their FIFA Club World Cup campaign with a solid 2-0 win over Los Angeles FC, but the victory was overshadowed by the glaring absence of fans at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The Monday afternoon match, scheduled at 3 PM local time, drew just 22,137 spectators, barely filling the lower bowl of a stadium built to hold 71,000.
Manager Enzo Maresca acknowledged the awkward atmosphere during his post-match comments, saying, “The environment felt a bit strange; the stadium was nearly empty. We are professionals and must adjust to the situation, whether the stadium is full or not, but it doesn’t affect us.” Despite FIFA’s projected attendance of around 26,000, large swaths of empty seats were visible, especially in the lower tier, while the entire upper tier was closed off.
Ticket pricing may have played a role in the underwhelming turnout. Tickets initially sold for as high as £37, and even as the match approached, plenty of seats remained available online for as low as £26. The slow ticket sales reflect broader concerns about interest in the newly expanded Club World Cup format, which some American fans view as unfamiliar and less compelling than other football tournaments.
Los Angeles FC, who entered the competition after Leon’s disqualification, were backed by about 150 vocal supporters. Though vastly outnumbered by Chelsea fans, the LAFC contingent added some spark to an otherwise muted affair. Chelsea fans, for their part, responded mostly to the team’s goals, a strong showing by debutant Liam Delap, and several pivotal referee decisions.
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The fixture marked Chelsea’s return to the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, where they previously played before a packed house of over 70,000 in a friendly against Newcastle two years ago. The stark contrast in turnout has raised questions about the Club World Cup’s traction in the U.S. market, especially as the nation prepares to co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico.
The timing of the match appeared to be a significant deterrent. Doug Roberson of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution noted, “It’s not that people here don’t care about soccer. The low attendance is due to the timing, it’s Monday at 3 PM. Honestly, I’m surprised there are as many people as there are. This tournament doesn’t hold much significance for many in the U.S. because it’s new, and I can understand the hesitation to pay for an unfamiliar event.”
The Club World Cup’s weekday schedule continues over the next two weeks, with most group-stage matches slated during standard work hours, noon, 2 PM, and 3 PM local time through to Thursday, June 26. FIFA’s gamble on weekday fixtures may ultimately impact both the tournament’s reputation and its commercial success.
Chelsea’s convincing win may have sent a message on the pitch, but off the field, the subdued launch of the Club World Cup has ignited a new conversation: can FIFA truly sell global football to an American audience during office hours?
