Chelsea FC launched their Club World Cup campaign with 2-0 victory against Los Angeles FC (LAFC) at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. But the match drew attention for its sparse crowd of 22,137 in a venue capable of holding 71,000.
New £30 million signing Liam Delap marked his debut with an assist for Enzo Fernandez’s goal, sparking optimism about his role in Enzo Maresca’s squad.
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Delap, who replaced Nicolas Jackson in the 64th minute, expressed enthusiasm about competing for a starting spot. “It’s healthy to have competition at an incredible club like Chelsea. I thrive off it,” he told Sky Sports. “I’m excited to contribute, but I want to score too. The team welcomed me well, and I can’t wait for more.”
Despite the on-field success, the low attendance—second lowest in the tournament so far—raised eyebrows. The 3:00 p.m. Monday kickoff in Atlanta, ideal for UK viewers at 8:00 p.m. BST, likely deterred local fans. Top tier of the stadium remained closed, amplifying the “strange atmosphere” noted by Maresca. In contrast Chelsea drew over 70,000 fans at the same venue for a 2023 pre-season friendly against Newcastle, highlighting Atlanta’s appetite for English football under better scheduling.
FIFA, contacted by Sky Sports News, remains optimistic about overall attendance. The tournament’s seven matches have averaged 45,000 fans, with standout crowds of 61,000 for Inter Miami vs. Al-Ahli, 80,000 for PSG vs. Atlético Madrid in Los Angeles, and 55,000 for Boca Juniors vs. Benfica in Miami. FIFA expects numbers to rise in later stages, particularly for high-stakes matches.
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Chelsea’s upcoming group games include Flamengo on Friday at 7:00 p.m. and Tunisian champions Espérance Sportive de Tunis on Wednesday at 2:00 a.m. local time.
Read more: Italy Appoints Gennaro Gattuso as New Head Coach After Luciano Spalletti’s Exit
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While the team’s performance signals promise FIFA faces scrutiny over scheduling to boost fan turnout in the expanded 32-team tournament.