Chelsea kicked off their FIFA Club World Cup campaign with a solid 2-0 win over LAFC, one of the three qualified MLS sides.
Goals from Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernandez gave the Blues a promising start as they aim to build on their recent UEFA Conference League victory and return to European prominence.
Despite playing in the 71,000-capacity Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, only around 22,000 fans were in attendance—likely due to the Monday afternoon kickoff and sweltering Georgia heat.
A small but vocal group of LAFC supporters provided atmosphere behind Hugo Lloris’ goal.
Chelsea dominated early, with Nicolas Jackson setting up Neto’s opener through a sharp assist.
The Portuguese winger finished clinically after leaving his marker behind. New signing Liam Delap came on in the second half and quickly made an impact, assisting Fernandez with a well-placed cross to secure the win.
While LAFC had a few chances, Chelsea remained in control throughout. The victory signals a confident start to the tournament, with the Blues now looking to go deep and reassert their status on the global stage.
