The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup is still finding its rhythm—and its audience. In a day of contrasts, Chelsea claimed a routine win in front of a cavernous, near-empty stadium, while Boca Juniors and Benfica delivered a dramatic spectacle to a thunderous crowd. As the tournament unfolds, questions about fan engagement, venue choices, and atmosphere continue to swirl.
Chelsea opens quietly amid rows of empty seats
Chelsea’s 2-0 win over Los Angeles FC in their opening match of the FIFA Club World Cup was, by all accounts, a professional but uninspired affair. The game, played at the 71,000-seat Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, drew a crowd of just 22,137—barely a third of the venue’s capacity. While the London club collected three comfortable points thanks to goals from Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernández, the most notable feature of the match may have been its eerie silence.
“It was a bit strange,” Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca admitted afterward. “The stadium was almost empty. But we are professionals. You adapt to a full stadium, and you adapt when it’s not full. That’s the job.”
The sparse attendance may be explained by a combination of factors: a 3 p.m. weekday kickoff, ticket prices that fluctuated even on match day, and the curious decision to schedule Los Angeles FC nearly 1,900 miles from their home base in California. While FIFA’s Club World Cup aims to emulate the energy and grandeur of the men’s World Cup, this particular outing felt far removed from that vision.
LAFC created some chances but ultimately lacked the edge to trouble Chelsea, who remained in second gear throughout. Despite the sluggish setting, Chelsea took care of business and now look ahead to a higher-profile clash against Flamengo in Philadelphia—where, according to Maresca, the atmosphere is expected to be far livelier. “Brazilian teams always bring many, many fans,” he said. For LAFC, head coach Steve Cherundolo downplayed concerns over attendance, urging patience. “It’s kind of different each game,” he said. “I don’t think we should be talking about this right now. Let’s wait until the end of the tournament to make a full assessment.”
Boca Juniors and Benfica deliver fireworks in Miami
If Chelsea vs. LAFC was a reminder of the tournament’s growing pains, Boca Juniors and Benfica offered a tantalizing glimpse of its potential. Played in front of more than 55,000 fans at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, the match had everything: goals, red cards, controversy—and, most importantly, an atmosphere that lived up to the occasion.
From the opening whistle, Boca’s famously passionate fans turned the venue into a cauldron. Their team responded in kind, racing to a 2-0 lead inside the first half hour thanks to sharp finishes from Miguel Merentiel and Rodrigo Battaglia. But Benfica, as ever, refused to fade.
The turning point came on the brink of halftime when Nicolás Otamendi was brought down in the box. After a lengthy VAR check, Ángel Di María coolly slotted home the penalty, cutting Boca’s lead in half. Emotions flared in the aftermath, with Ander Herrera—off the pitch at the time—shown a red card for his role in the heated protests. The drama only escalated in the second half. Benfica’s Andrea Belotti was shown a straight red card in the 72nd minute for a high boot, leaving the Portuguese side down to 10 men. But even shorthanded, Benfica found their equalizer six minutes from time—Otamendi rising to nod home and complete a spirited comeback.
There was still more chaos to come. Just moments after the goal, Boca’s Nicolás Figal was sent off for a dangerous challenge on Florentino Luís, bringing the red card tally to three. The final whistle capped a tempestuous 2-2 draw, one that thrilled neutrals and confirmed the enduring appeal of South American-European rivalries on the global stage.
Flamengo coasts to victory as Brazilian fans show up
In the third game of the day, Flamengo showed why they are one of Brazil’s most storied clubs with a composed 2-0 win over Tunisia’s ES Tunis. Played at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field, the match attracted a crowd of 25,797—not a full house, but a solid turnout bolstered by Flamengo’s devoted fanbase.
Goals from Gabriel Barbosa and Giorgian De Arrascaeta sealed the win in a performance that, while not flashy, demonstrated the kind of tournament savvy expected from a team with continental pedigree. Flamengo controlled possession, dictated tempo, and never allowed the Tunisian champions a foothold.
The Brazilian presence in the stands was unmistakable—chants, drums, and banners turned portions of the stadium into a miniature Maracanã. It was a reminder that while some fanbases are still warming to the idea of a U.S.-based Club World Cup, others are embracing it with gusto.
Flamengo’s win sets up an enticing showdown with Chelsea in their next match, a test that could provide the kind of high-stakes drama the tournament needs to capture a global audience.
Growing pains in a global experiment
If Thursday’s triple-header illustrated anything, it’s that the expanded FIFA Club World Cup is still a work in progress. The format, locations, and scheduling have produced mixed results, and the disparity in crowd energy between Atlanta and Miami was striking.
While some matches are struggling to generate buzz, others are clearly resonating with fans. Boca’s vocal supporters and Flamengo’s traveling contingent demonstrated what’s possible when footballing culture and fan passion align. In contrast, Chelsea’s curtain-raiser exposed some of the logistical and emotional gaps in a tournament trying to find its footing outside of traditional footballing hubs.
The coming days will offer more answers. Will bigger matchups draw stronger crowds? Will local fans rally around the spectacle as the stakes increase? Or will the tournament remain a patchwork of thrilling moments overshadowed by indifferent environments? For now, FIFA can take heart in performances like Boca-Benfica—but must also reckon with the optics of empty seats at high-profile matches. The football is only part of the show. Without the fans, it’s hard for the magic to truly land.
