Chelsea Manager Points Out 'Strange' Problem With FIFA Club World Cup After 2-0 Win

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Noah Cooperman | Last updated Jun 17, 2025 4:28 PM ET

After Chelsea's 2-0 victory over Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) in the first game of the FIFA Club World Cup's group stage, manager Enzo Maresca didn’t talk first about goals or tactics; he talked about the crowd. Or more accurately, the lack of one.

Only 22,137 fans were in attendance at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, a surprising figure given the size of the venue, which holds over 71,000. The stadium appeared half-empty during a match featuring one of the world's biggest clubs, Chelsea.

With Chelsea and LAFC both playing far from home, the match lacked a natural local fanbase, and the atmosphere reflected that. The timing and setting may not have helped either, with the game taking place on a Monday afternoon.

After the match, Maresca made it clear that the occasion didn’t feel like a major international event.

“The atmosphere was a bit strange,” Maresca said. "The stadium was almost empty. This is a world tournament. It deserves more.” Maresca said after the match.

Chelsea controlled the game from the start, with Andrey Santos (Neto) opening the scoring in the 34th minute and Enzo Fernandez finishing things off in the second half.

The low turnout has sparked concern about the tournament’s U.S. rollout and whether FIFA underestimated the challenges of promoting a global club event in a busy American sports market.

Chelsea will face Flamengo in Philadelphia on Friday, June 20th, at 2 P.M. ET. Maresca hopes for a more fitting environment as the stakes rise and the world watches.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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