Pedro Neto scored in the first half and Enzo Fernández in the 79th minute to give Chelsea a 2-0 win over LAFC at the Club World Cup.

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca said the atmosphere at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta was "a bit strange" as his side began their Club World Cup campaign with a 2-0 win over Los Angeles FC in front of swathes of empty seats.

As the Club World Cup’s start date inches closer, Major League Soccer’s Players Association has been lobbying for a distribution of prize money it deems more fair for the players.

The number of empty seats at Mercedes-Benz Stadium was hard for Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca not to notice during his club’s 2-0 win over MLS side Los Angeles FC in the group stage of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.

It’s taken time for the Club World Cup to build brand awareness, but opening weekend drew huge crowds in Miami, NYC and Los Angeles.

World Cup begins across North America one year from this week, sports figures from across Los Angeles are hoping the global soccer community will find the U.S. both inspiring and welcoming.

The match is set to take place Saturday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood as part of the Gold Cup's group stage.