Chelsea’s opening match at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup against Los Angeles FC on Monday was played in front of thousands of empty seats at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
The game, which kicked off on a working weekday, highlighted ongoing concerns about ticket sales for the newly expanded tournament.
While the Mercedes-Benz Stadium boasts a capacity of 75,000, the entire top tier was closed for this fixture. Sources told the BBC that FIFA had anticipated a crowd of around 26,000, but even that figure seemed optimistic at kick-off.
Ticket prices reflected the low demand, with the cheapest tickets available for around £37 before kick-off, dropping to as low as £26 online during the game, with availability in nearly every section.
The vast distance between Los Angeles and Atlanta – over 2,000 miles – likely contributed to the limited away support, though LAFC’s approximately 1,500 ultras did their best to generate atmosphere.
The expanded FIFA Club World Cup is widely seen as a dress rehearsal for next summer’s FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
With the Club World Cup being played exclusively in the U.S., slow ticket sales and visible empty seats present a significant challenge for FIFA’s optics, especially as many games are scheduled during regular work hours on weekdays.
Chelsea previously played at the same stadium two years ago, almost selling out the venue with over 70,000 fans attending their friendly against Newcastle in the Premier League Summer Series.
