New Delhi, June 17 -- Chelsea FC opened their FIFA Club World Cup campaign against Los Angeles FC on June 16, 2025, at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium. However, the event failed to draw a big crowd.

With a capacity of 75,000, the stadium had its entire top tier closed. FIFA expected around 26,000 fans, according to a BBC report. But at the 3 pm kickoff, the turnout looked even smaller. While the middle tier was mostly full, the larger bottom tier was more than half empty, creating a quiet atmosphere for the team's first match.

The match took place at 3 pm on a Monday, coinciding with typical work hours. LAFC supporters traveled over 2,000 miles from Los Angeles, with 1,500 ultras providing the majority of the crowd's energy. Tickets sta...