Whether or not the public actually cares about FIFA's redesigned tournament format has been one of the main topics of discussion in recent weeks.

The football world is taking notice of the fact that ticket sales have fallen short of projections. Notably, this match was the first to take place on a weekday, which might have contributed to the lackluster attendance.

In the future, two to three games are planned on alternating weekdays during regular business hours this week and the following week, lasting until the conclusion of the group stage.

After playing at the stadium two years prior in front of an enormous crowd—more than 70,000 people attended the friendly exhibition known as the Premier League Summer Series—Chelsea made a comeback to the stadium.

It's not just any pitch at the venue. With an average attendance of 44,037 per game, it is the home field of Atlanta United, the most popular team in Major League Soccer. It is a mainstay of American soccer and frequently hosts both the men's and women's national teams.

The main concern surrounding this event is whether the low attendance numbers indicate a true lack of interest in FIFA's redesigned Club World Cup or if this lack of enthusiasm may carry over into the actual 2026 World Cup.

Are fans only disregarding this format? Or is there anything more fundamental going on here?

Not every early clash has generated the same level of enthusiasm, even if Messi fever packed the stands for the tournament's curtain-raiser in Miami on June 14 and defending European champions PSG crushed Atletico Madrid in front of a raucous crowd of 80,000 at the legendary Rose Bowl the following night.

Consider Monday's match between Chelsea and LAFC at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, which was watched by only 22,137 people, or just a third of the 75,000 seats available.

The opening stages have seen a range of crowds, with numerous high-profile venues witnessing far from full houses.

Only 25,797 people attended Flamengo's Group C match against Esperance de Tunis in Philadelphia at Lincoln Financial Field, a stadium with 69,000 seats. It's just a little more than a third filled.

In Seattle, 30,151 spectators attended Sunday's Group B match between Botafogo and the Sounders, which only filled 43.7% of Lumen Field's capacity.

The match between Palmeiras and Porto drew 46,275 spectators to MetLife Stadium, the premier location for the final. Even if that number is higher, the venue can hold 82,500 people, and nevertheless roughly 40,000 seats were unoccupied.

And with 13 of the 36 group-stage games still planned for weekday afternoons, there are questions about whether the lackluster attendance will continue to cloud the tournament's early stages.

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