Chelsea Triumphs 2-0 Over LAFC in Sparse Club World Cup Opener

• Chelsea beat LAFC 2-0 in Club World Cup opener, but low turnout in Atlanta raises concerns
• Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernandez score as Chelsea cruise past LAFC in front of sparse crowd
• Chelsea shine on pitch but not in stands, defeating LAFC 2-0 before just 22,137 fans

Chelsea kicked off their FIFA Club World Cup campaign with a solid 2-0 victory against Los Angeles FC in Group D at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Monday. However, the match was overshadowed by a strikingly low attendance, with only 22,137 fans filling the 71,000-capacity venue, leaving nearly 50,000 seats empty.

Chelsea’s goals came from Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernandez, giving the English team a confident edge against one of the MLS sides in the competition. Neto broke through in the 34th minute, darting past LAFC’s Ryan Hollingshead after a sharp pass from Nicolas Jackson and blasting the ball past goalkeeper Hugo Lloris. Fernandez wrapped things up late, slotting in a perfect cross from Liam Delap, a new signing who made a splash off the bench after his £30m move from Ipswich.

Fresh off their UEFA Conference League title and a Champions League berth, Chelsea looked in control early on. Lloris was busy, fending off shots from Jackson and Noni Madueke, while Cole Palmer nearly found the net. LAFC showed some fight in the second half, with Denis Bouanga and sub Olivier Giroud creating a few chances, but Chelsea’s Robert Sanchez stood tall to keep a clean sheet.

Coach Enzo Maresca was all smiles about the win, especially hyping up Delap: “Liam’s already clicking with our style, so he’s fitting right in.” The tiny crowd, though, was impossible to ignore. A 3:00 pm weekday kickoff, probably timed for UK viewers, didn’t do any favors for local turnout, even in a soccer-hot city like Atlanta. Add in pricey tickets and barely any buzz, and it’s no wonder fans stayed away—something FIFA might sweat over as they prep for the 2026 World Cup.

Also Read: PSG Crush Atletico Madrid 4-0 in Club World Cup

LAFC, who snuck into the tournament by beating Club Leon in a playoff, couldn’t match Chelsea’s energy. Coach Steve Cherundolo brushed off the crowd issue, saying it’s too soon to make a big deal of it. Next up, Chelsea faces Flamengo in Philadelphia on June 20, while LAFC takes on Esperance de Tunis in Nashville.