Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca described the atmosphere during his team’s opening match at the Club World Cup on Monday as “strange,” after the Blues secured a 2-0 victory in front of an arena largely devoid of spectators.
The UEFA Conference League champions defeated Los Angeles FC at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, where only around 22,000 fans were in attendance within the 71,000-seat venue, leaving nearly 50,000 seats empty.
“The environment felt a bit odd—the stadium was far from full,” Maresca told reporters. “As professionals, we must adapt to the circumstances and the surroundings. The players’ behaviour and attitude were important, and once again they demonstrated their professionalism.”
Maresca revealed his team had anticipated a larger crowd but expressed hope that the atmosphere would improve for their next match against Brazil’s Flamengo in Philadelphia.
“We prepared for this game knowing the environment might be different, but we’re confident the next fixture will be better attended, as Brazilian teams tend to bring large fanbases,” he added.
Earlier in the tournament, over 60,000 spectators watched Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami take on Al Ahly at the opening match in Atlanta, while 80,000 filled the Rose Bowl in Pasadena for the UEFA Champions League clash between Paris Saint-Germain and Atletico Madrid.
Later on Monday, Boca Juniors fans created a lively atmosphere at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami during their match against Benfica.
Chelsea’s midday kickoff on a Monday working day contributed to the sparse crowd, with the Mercedes-Benz Stadium less than a third full. MLS side Atlanta United, known as one of the best-supported clubs in the US, average nearly 45,000 attendees at their matches.
LA coach Steve Cherundolo commented on the attendance, saying, “PSG versus Atletico had a huge crowd at the Rose Bowl, so I’m not sure if more fans in Los Angeles are interested in this tournament compared to here, or if it’s just the match-ups tonight.”
He cautioned against judging FIFA’s expanded Club World Cup solely on the basis of one game. “Crowds vary from match to match, so it’s premature to make any conclusions right now,” Cherundolo said. “We should wait until the tournament concludes to form an opinion as a whole.”
