Chelsea got their Club World Cup campaign under way with a 2-0 victory over MLS side LAFC in front of thousands of empty seats at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
Slow ticket sales have been a big talking point as FIFA's new-look tournament got underway as 22,137 were in attendance in a 71,000 capacity stadium to see Pedro Neto give Enzo Maresca's side the lead in the 34th minute.
Those Chelsea fans in attendance got their first glimpse of new £30m signing Liam Delap midway through the second half and he made an instant impact, teeing up Enzo Fernandes as the Premier League side made a winning start in Group D.
_More to follow..._
#### Stadium less than third full for Chelsea' s opening CWC game
The official attendance for the Club World Cup match between Chelsea and Los Angeles FC has been given as 22,137, meaning the Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta was less than a third full. Pre-match estimates for the crowd predicted it would be around 26,000. The game kicked off at 3pm. Los Angeles is more than 2,000 miles away from Atlanta, across the southern United States. Chelsea have played in front of over 70,000 fans at Mercedes Benz Stadium. They faced Newcastle in July 2023 in a Premier League pre-season tournament in front of a capacity crowd.
_Sky Sports News has contacted FIFA for comment._
In pictures: Empty seats galore in Atlanta
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Image: Empty seats at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium for Chelsea vs LAFC
Image: Fans wait for the start of the Club World Cup match
**Chelsea** play **Flamengo** in their next Club World Cup group game on Friday, kick-off 7pm (UK and Ireland time).