Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has pointed out the biggest issue the FIFA Club World Cup is currently facing following his side's 2-0 victory in their opener against LAFC. Goals from Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernandez either side of the break were enough for the Blues to pick up the three points, as Liam Delap also impressed on his debut off the bench.
While it was a comfortable afternoon's work for the Conference League champions, it was far from inspiring and they were not helped by the strange atmosphere from an almost empty Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, which Maresca noted as one of the main problems the CWC must address.
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Maresca On 'Strange' Environment Created By Empty Stadium
The 70,000-seater was sparsely filled
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Speaking after the game, as per The Athletic, Maresca noted that the lack of fans in the stadium created a 'strange atmosphere,' as he voiced the concerns that many others have had about the early stages of the competition. Chelsea's players were given individual entrances to the pitch ahead of kick-off, which not only delayed proceedings but also added to the unique circumstances, as barely anyone was in the stands to make the grandiose arrivals feel as such.
Discussing the small turnout, Maresca stated:
"It was a good match, a good performance. I think the environment was a bit strange. You know, the stadium was almost empty. Not full. We prepared for this game also thinking that the environment was a bit different."
Despite the worrying attendance in the first game, the former Leicester City boss played down fears that the same would be said of his side's second game of the tournament when they taken on Brazilian giants Flamengo on Friday, with Maresca saying:
"No doubt that the next one will be a nice one because we know that the Brazilian team, they always bring many, many fans. So we will try to be ready for the next one."
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Early Attendance Falling Below FIFA's Expectations
It has not been a great turnout this summer
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While there have been other games that have been closer to full capacity in the stands, such as in PSG's 4-0 victory over Atletico Madrid, the lack of interest in the tournament does not bode well for FIFA, especially ahead of next summer's World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Prior to the tournament, FIFA President Gianni Infantino had expressed high expectations of travelling supporters, stating that: "This competition will have two, three, four million fans coming to the US."
Part of the issue, however, appears to be the fact that the majority of games are being hosted in NFL stadiums as opposed to smaller MLS arenas, something that was proposed to the FIFA hierarchy according to The Athletic, but was turned down by Infantino and co as they instead opted to go as big as possible despite the risk of empty stadiums.
It was also reported that FIFA had spent in excess of $50 million to market the Club World Cup in order to boost ticket sales, but early indications suggest that it has failed to have the desired effect.
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