Chelsea Manager Points Out 'Strange' Problem With FIFA Club World Cup After 2-0 Win originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

There were a reported 48,863 empty seats in the stadium as Chelsea defeated LAFC, but the TV viewing figures back in the UK exceeded expectations. Channel 5 purchased the rights to air 23 Club World Cup games from DAZN.

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.

Chelsea's win over LAFC took place in a 70,000-capacity NFL stadium that attracted an attendance of just 22,137.

Chelsea's opening match against LAFC in the Club World Cup drew a shockingly small audience at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Despite FIFA's lofty ambitions, the Club World Cup has so far played out in front of half-empty stadiums, the result of steep ticket prices, poor promotion and a misread of the U.S. market.

The last side to book their place at the Club World Cup face off against one of the first to have stamped their passage to the United States on Sunday as Chelsea and Los Angeles FC meet at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Arena.

A former Chelsea player has told the club to sign a World Cup winning star this summer as he wants to see experience added. Chelsea beat Los Angeles FC 2-0 in their Club World Cup opening group game on Monday night in what was a very strange and subdued atmosphere in front of just 22,000 people in a huge stadium.

Chelsea have kicked off their Club World Cup campaign, but behind the scenes there is still serious transfer work going on.While Enzo Maresca trains his players in the USA, the transfer team are