Chelsea Defeat LAFC 2-0 in Club World Cup Opener

Chelsea began their Club World Cup campaign with a 2-0 win over LAFC at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium, where attendance was notably low at just over 22,000 fans. Pedro Neto scored the opening goal, while new signing Liam Delap assisted Enzo Fernandez for Chelsea's second. Chelsea's goalkeeper Robert Sánchez made several key saves to secure a clean sheet despite LAFC's pressure. Enzo Maresca started a strong lineup, and LAFC introduced former Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud during the match. The low turnout has raised concerns about FIFA's revamped tournament format. Chelsea's next group stage opponent will be Flamengo.