During the opening round of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, empty seats at Mercedes-Benz Stadium were somewhat overshadowed when Chelsea, under coach Enzo Maresca, defeated LAFC 2-0. While the attendance issue stirred discussions before the tournament, the initial matches saw decent crowds for the most part.
However, on Monday afternoon in Atlanta, attendance hit a low point with only 22,197 fans showing up in a stadium that can accommodate 70,000—home to both MLS’s Atlanta United and the NFL Falcons.
“It was a good match and a good performance,” Maresca commented in the post-match press conference. “I think the atmosphere was a bit strange. The stadium wasn’t full.”
Several factors might explain the small turnout, like ticket prices and the 3 PM kickoff time.
According to Yahoo Sports, ticket prices ranged from $83 to $228, and in the secondary market, they didn’t dip below $65.
For those who had seats in the 300-level, fans were urged to relocate to the lower bowl, as reported by Athletic.
While Maresca acknowledged the attendance situation, Chelsea defender Levi Colwill mentioned that the players “really didn’t notice” the empty seats. “The tournament is new, but having the best teams in the world should attract fans,” he added. “That’s what we’re looking forward to.”
Maresca was optimistic that the next match would draw a larger audience.
This Friday, Chelsea is set to face Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field and Brazilian team Flamengo in the Club World Cup, which is available for free streaming on Dazen.
“Brazilian teams usually bring a lot of supporters, so I’m confident the next game will be exciting,” Maresca noted. “We need to be ready for that.”
FIFA, meanwhile, had to be pleased with the success of the match between Inter Miami and Al-Arly held at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, which saw over 60,000 fans. Additionally, the clash between Paris Saint-Germain and Atletico Madrid had a significant turnout at the Rose Bowl.
Over 46,000 fans attended the Palmeiras vs. Porto game at MetLife Stadium, which met the expectations of New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy. He remarked on the impressive turnout, appreciating the large number of traveling supporters.
As the tournament began to face challenges with attendance, concerns were expressed about the overall turnout for subsequent matches. The first edition of this tournament was anticipated to showcase a vibrant atmosphere, but FIFA addressed these worries, emphasizing their expectation for an electric experience as the competition unfolded.
