Liam Delap made a strong first impression as Chelsea opened their Club World Cup campaign with a 2-0 win over Los Angeles Football Club, but the match was overshadowed by the sight of thousands of empty seats inside the 75,000-capacity Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

The official attendance was just 22,137, a strikingly low figure for a marquee fixture featuring Premier League giants Chelsea and World Cup-winning veterans Hugo Lloris and Olivier Giroud in Los Angeles Football Club colours. A mix of high ticket prices, minimal local promotion, and an ill-timed 3pm Monday kickoff contributed to the underwhelming turnout in a city known for strong soccer support.

Chelsea laboured through the match, but the difference in finishing quality told the story. Pedro Neto opened the scoring in the first half with a solo run and strike at Lloris's near post, set up by a clever reverse pass from Nicolas Jackson. Despite some promising attacks from Los Angeles Football Club most notably a powerful shot from Denis Bouanga and a close miss by David Martínez, Chelsea remained in control.

The second half saw the debut of 22-year-old Liam Delap, a £30m summer signing from Ipswich. Wearing the coveted No. 9 shirt, Delap came on in the 64th minute and made an immediate impact. After a driving run from midfield, he floated a chipped cross that Enzo Fernandez tapped home to secure the win. Delap’s physicality and directness added fresh energy to a Chelsea side that looked fatigued from a long season.

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca praised Liam Delap's debut, highlighting the added depth he brings to the squad alongside Nicolas Jackson. While Jackson played a key role in the opening goal with his pace and link-up play, his finishing still lacks consistency. Maresca sees the presence of both strikers as a valuable asset, especially after last season's shortage of attacking options.

Midfielder Dario Essugo also made his first appearance for the Blues, while Reece James and Romeo Lavia were carefully managed, coming off at halftime. Despite the quiet atmosphere and the absence of new marquee signings in the starting eleven, Chelsea’s performance showed promise, particularly in attack. Still, questions remain for FIFA, whose decision to stage a high-profile match midweek in a nearly empty stadium raises concerns especially with Atlanta set to play a major role in hosting the 2026 World Cup.