Chelsea play to 50,000 empty seats – What’s behind Club World Cup apathy?

Chelsea Play to 50,000 Empty Seats – Why Are Fans Skipping the Club World Cup?

Chelsea’s FIFA Club World Cup opener against Los Angeles FC in Atlanta saw a massive number of empty seats, with just 22,137 fans inside the 75,000-capacity Mercedes-Benz Stadium — raising serious questions ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

Despite the match involving a global club giant and one of the MLS’s most followed teams, the stadium was more than half-empty, with the entire upper tier closed and many seats available for as low as £26 even during the game.

Why Was the Attendance So Low?

All these seats were still on sale during the first half

Several factors appear to have contributed to the low turnout:

🕒 1.

Awkward Kick-Off Time

The match started at 3pm on a Monday, a regular working hour, limiting attendance. Weekday daytime matches are scheduled throughout the group stages.

📉 2.

Low Tournament Prestige

The revamped Club World Cup is still unfamiliar to American fans, unlike the UEFA Champions League or World Cup. With FIFA branding it as a major event, locals were left unconvinced.

💰 3.

High Ticket Prices

Tickets started at £37 and were later discounted to £26 during the match. Reports suggest some students were offered 4-for-1 deals — but even that wasn’t enough to draw crowds.

✈️ 4.

Logistical Disadvantage

LAFC fans had to travel more than 2,000 miles to Atlanta, while Chelsea fans based in the UK were unlikely to fly in for a group stage fixture in an unproven tournament.

📣 5.

Lack of Local Marketing

According to American journalists, FIFA handled all marketing in-house with no strong local organizing committee, leading to limited public awareness or local engagement.

Is This a Red Flag for the 2026 World Cup?

Before kick-off there were even fewer fans in

Experts believe the 2026 FIFA World Cup won’t suffer the same fate:

• World Cup prestige is unmatched, drawing in global fanbases.

• Matches will be better scheduled to accommodate fans.

• Host cities are expected to have stronger local organizing efforts and longer-term planning.

But the Club World Cup experience is a warning sign. FIFA must take lessons in marketing, scheduling, pricing, and venue strategy seriously.

“You can’t just expect people to turn up. You have to market,” said Jonathan Tannenwald of the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Contrasts in Attendance So Far

Thousands upon thousands of seats were empty in Atlanta

While Chelsea’s game disappointed, other matches had better numbers:

• Inter Miami vs Al-Ahly: 60,927

• PSG vs Atletico Madrid: 80,619

• Other attendances: 46,275; 30,151; 21,152

But tickets remain widely available for most upcoming matches, even for high-profile games like Real Madrid vs Al-Hilal.

Final Word

Chelsea famously filled the stadium in 2022 at the same venue during the Premier League Summer Series, proving the support is there — if the event is marketed and scheduled properly.

As the Club World Cup continues and the World Cup approaches, FIFA’s challenge is clear: convince fans this matters — or risk more empty seats in stadiums built for the world’s biggest stage.