Chelsea secured a solid Club World Cup win, but empty seats told a louder story in Atlanta.
Despite Delap’s dazzling debut, poor turnout raises fresh doubts about tournament appeal in the US.
Chelsea opened their FIFA Club World Cup campaign with a 2-0 victory over Los Angeles FC. Still, the win was overshadowed by the surprisingly low turnout at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
Only 22,137 spectators filled the 71,000-capacity venue, a glaring contrast for a tournament meant to be prestigious. While Chelsea got the job done on the field, questions lingered about the tournament’s visibility and the level of enthusiasm from local fans.
The match saw Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernández on the scoresheet, with the latter’s goal assisted by debutant Liam Delap. Neto struck in the 34th minute, capitalizing on a neat pass from Nicolas Jackson to finish at the near post. Chelsea’s second came late in the 79th minute when Delap, who recently joined from Ipswich in a £30 million transfer, delivered a pinpoint cross to Fernández, who tapped it in from close range.
Delap’s brief appearance after coming on in the 64th minute turned heads. The England U21 international wasted no time, immediately threatening the LAFC defense with his pace and awareness. His chipped assist for Chelsea’s second goal capped off a lively debut, and he nearly grabbed a second assist with a late solo run before being subbed out.
Dario Essugo also made his Chelsea debut, and though he had a quieter performance, the squad’s overall depth helped see off a spirited but wasteful LAFC side.
Despite the star power in the LAFC lineup, including World Cup winners such as Olivier Giroud and Hugo Lloris, the team failed to capitalize on key chances. Denis Bouanga and David Martinez both came close, but poor finishing and Chelsea’s defensive structure kept them scoreless.
While the result was a positive one for the Blues, who have now won eight of their last nine matches, including their recent Conference League final, attention quickly turned to the lack of crowd engagement. Atlanta, home to the MLS team Atlanta United, typically boasts strong soccer attendance, averaging over 44,000 per game. This time, however, a mix of factors, weekday scheduling, high ticket costs, limited promotion, and competing events like a UFC match and a Power Rangers convention dampened the atmosphere.
The sparse turnout raises concerns ahead of the 2026 World Cup, which will feature matches in the same city. In contrast, Chelsea drew over 70,000 fans at the same venue for a friendly against Newcastle just two years ago, making Monday’s attendance even more baffling.
FIFA has not yet responded to the turnout concerns, but the situation underscores a broader issue: How seriously is the expanded Club World Cup being taken by fans, especially in markets still adjusting to the sport’s global rhythms?
Next up, Chelsea will face Flamengo in Philadelphia on Friday, aiming to continue their winning form. LAFC, on the other hand, will be looking to bounce back as they take on Tunisia’s ES Tunis in Nashville. The group concludes the following Tuesday, with Chelsea facing ES Tunis and LAFC going up against Flamengo.
As the tournament progresses, Chelsea will hope to build on their solid start, while FIFA will need to address the growing questions about fan engagement and marketing effectiveness for a competition they hope to elevate on the world stage.
Player of the match:
Liam Delap’s dream debut for the young striker, who contributed an assist, created chances, and injected life into the Chelsea attack within just 30 minutes of action. His performance earned him the highest rating of the match at 7.21.
Though Chelsea’s performance wasn’t dazzling, it was clinical, and with rising stars like Delap making their mark, the London club may have more reasons to be optimistic than concerned.
