Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has taken aim at FIFA after his team’s opening match at the revamped FIFA Club World Cup was played in front of a sparse crowd of just 22,137 fans — a dismal turnout in the cavernous 71,000-seat Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

The Blues secured a comfortable 2-0 win over Los Angeles FC on Monday night, but the atmosphere was notably subdued as the stadium, home to NFL’s Atlanta Falcons was barely a third full. The low attendance was a major embarrassment for FIFA, which has heavily invested in the expanded Club World Cup format and made bold predictions about fan engagement in the United States.

Despite the tournament’s profile and Chelsea’s global following, organisers failed to adjust ticket pricing or scheduling to attract local fans. The match kicked off at 3pm Eastern Time on a weekday — a decision widely criticised. Fans who had purchased the cheapest tickets were originally placed in the upper tier but were later relocated to the lower bowl in a last-minute attempt to create a fuller visual impression. Still, they were heavily outnumbered by rows of empty red seats.

Maresca voiced his disappointment after the match:

“It was a good match, a good performance. But the environment was a bit strange — the stadium was almost empty. We prepared knowing the atmosphere would be different. No doubt the next one will be better, as we know Brazilian fans always come in numbers.”

Chelsea’s next match is set for Philadelphia against Brazilian giants Flamengo, a fixture expected to draw a significantly larger crowd at Lincoln Financial Field, another NFL venue.

Despite the circumstances, Maresca praised his players for maintaining focus and professionalism:

“What’s important is the behaviour and attitude of the players. They showed today the desire to win and the discipline to not concede. We want to keep that defensive strength we had at the end of our Premier League and Conference League campaigns.”

The low turnout has reignited internal tensions within FIFA. According to The Athletic, staff had advised staging games in smaller, MLS-sized stadiums, which typically seat around 25,000 to 30,000 fans — a move that might have avoided the embarrassment of visibly empty venues. However, those recommendations were overridden by top officials, including FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who had previously dismissed concerns about attendance.

Infantino had confidently declared in December that the tournament would attract millions to stadiums across the U.S., adding:

“This competition will have two, three, four million fans coming to the U.S… and those who stay at home will be able to watch every game of their team — or any other — for free on TV.”

Monday’s turnout, however, tells a different story, one that raises questions about FIFA’s planning, pricing strategy, and its broader ambitions for football’s footprint in the U.S.

– Tobi Sangotola