June 17, 2025 – Chelsea kicked off their FIFA Club World Cup 2025 campaign with a dominating 2-0 win over Los Angeles FC (LAFC) on June 16, 2025, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernández’s goals, supported by a strong defensive effort, guaranteed a winning start for the Blues in Group D, even with a meagre attendance of 22,137 in the 71,000-capacity stadium, a topic of debate among European football fans.
Dominant Display in Atlanta
Chelsea dictated the pace of the game initially, with 67% possession in the first half, according to ESPN. Pedro Neto scored the opener in the 34th minute, cutting in from the left flank to curl in a low shot past LAFC’s Hugo Lloris, who had made early saves to keep out Nicolas Jackson and Noni Madueke. The second period witnessed Chelsea new recruit Liam Delap having an immediate effect on debut, helping Enzo Fernández in the 79th minute. Fernández fired home a shot into the top corner, securing the victory and highlighting the depth in midfield that was lauded by analysts before the tournament.
Midfield Mastery and Tactical Edge
Moisés Caicedo and Fernández were the midfield anchor men, with Caicedo’s defensive efforts stifling LAFC’s Denis Bouanga, who was unable to repeat his MLS form. Manager Enzo Maresca was rewarded by starting Romeo Lavia alongside Caicedo, although he admitted afterwards on Sky Sports that the lack of crowd made for a “strange” atmosphere. LAFC, having a 10-match unbeaten run heading into the game, mustered only 2 on-target shots, with Olivier Giroud—playing against his former team—struggling to make a difference, according to The Athletic
Sparse Crowd and Tournament Context
The match drew attention to logistical issues for the expanded Club World Cup, with the 3pm Eastern Time start time on a Monday impacting viewership. Maresca and LAFC’s Steve Cherundolo also recognized the subdued atmosphere, in contrast to the 80,619 PSG opener at the Rose Bowl. On X, European supporters were frustrated with the timing, although Chelsea fans were celebrating the win, labeling Fernández’s goal “world-class.” The win brought Chelsea $2m in prize money, according to posts on X, which should give them a morale boost for their next Group D game.
Looking Ahead
Chelsea’s victory puts them in good position in Group D, featuring Flamengo and Espérance de Tunis. They will be tested further against Flamengo on June 20 at Audi Field in Washington, D.C., with their midfield going up against another South American behemoth. LAFC, on the other hand, play Espérance de Tunis on the same day in Atlanta with the hope of bouncing back.
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