The third day of the Club World Cup delivered plenty of excitement, with top European and South American teams taking center stage in their respective groups. Chelsea won without dazzling against Los Angeles FC, while Flamengo and Boca Juniors entertained in their matches.
Day 3 Results:
| Match | Result |
|---|---|
| Chelsea – LAFC | 2-0 |
| Boca Juniors – Benfica | 2-2 |
| Flamengo – Esperance | 2-0 |
Chelsea-LAFC 2-0: winning debut but not without risks for the Blues
In Atlanta, Chelsea kicked off its Club World Cup campaign with a 2-0 victory over Los Angeles FC, a side featuring European veterans Hugo Lloris and Olivier Giroud. The Blues started aggressively, nearly scoring early through Nicolas Jackson and Madueke, before breaking the deadlock in the 34th minute: Jackson delivered a precise long ball to Pedro Neto, who elegantly controlled it, sat down Hollingshead, and slotted the ball home with his left foot at the near post.
Los Angeles FC, which qualified by defeating Club America in a playoff, did not back down and created its best chance in the second half when Bouanga forced Sanchez into a tough foot save. The introduction of Enzo Fernandez shifted the balance: in the 79th minute, on a cross from debutant Delap from the right, Fernandez controlled the ball and beat Lloris to double the lead and seal the victory. Late on, Pedro Neto nearly grabbed a brace, hitting the crossbar. It was a valuable three points for Maresca, even if not a dazzling performance: Chelsea will now face Flamengo in a head-to-head clash for first place in Group D.
Boca Juniors-Benfica 2-2: thrills and regrets in Miami
At the Miami stadium, Boca Juniors and Benfica played out a thrilling draw that keeps Group C wide open. The Xeneizes came out flying, jumping to a 2-0 lead within 27 minutes: in the 21st minute, Merentiel finished from close range after a beautiful sequence initiated by Blanco, who nutmegged Florentino before delivering the decisive cross; six minutes later, Battaglia headed home a corner flicked on by Costa to double the lead.
Benfica pulled one back just before halftime thanks to a penalty awarded for a foul by Palacios on Otamendi, converted by Di Maria. In the second half, Roger Schmidt brought on Belotti, but the former Torino and Roma striker was sent off in the 72nd minute for a dangerous challenge on Costa, leaving the Portuguese side a man down. Despite being shorthanded, Otamendi equalized in the 84th minute, once again off a corner. Boca also lost Figal to a red card late on, but the score remained unchanged. The draw complicates matters for both teams: Boca will now face Bayern, while Benfica will aim to improve its goal difference against Auckland City.
Flamengo-Esperance 2-0: Brazilians stay perfect and join Chelsea at the top
In Philadelphia, Flamengo responded to Chelsea’s win by defeating Esperance 2-0. The Brazilians opened the scoring in the 17th minute with a well-worked team goal: Varela crossed from the right, Luis Araujo provided the assist, and De Arrascaeta finished with a first-time shot. The African side tried to respond with Ben Hamida and especially Belaili, who forced a tough save from Rossi in the second half.
Flamengo remained in control without major scares and sealed the win in the 70th minute thanks to a stunning curling left-foot strike from Luis Araujo into the top corner. With this victory, the Brazilians moved level with Chelsea atop Group D: the upcoming head-to-head will decide the group leader, while Esperance, still on zero points alongside Los Angeles FC, already finds itself with its back against the wall.
Standings after Day 3
| Group C | Points |
|---|---|
| Bayern | 3 |
| Boca Juniors | 1 |
| Benfica | 1 |
| Auckland City | 0 |
| Group D | Points |
|---|---|
| Chelsea | 3 |
| Flamengo | 3 |
| LAFC | 0 |
| Esperance | 0 |
Stadium attendance: Chelsea-LAFC flop and beyond
While the action on the pitch was thrilling, the atmosphere in the stands told a different story. The Chelsea vs. Los Angeles FC match at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium was played in front of large swaths of empty seats, with only 20-26,000 fans present in a venue that holds over 71,000. The surreal atmosphere, with music echoing through a mostly silent stadium, reignited debate over the actual appeal of FIFA’s revamped Club World Cup.
Despite ticket prices being slashed to around €30 (approx. $32) and organizers’ efforts to visually fill the stadium, attendance fell far short of expectations. This stood in stark contrast to other tournament matches, such as the opener and PSG vs. Atlético Madrid in Pasadena, which sold out.
The poor turnout has also reignited broader debate over the tournament’s format and its place in the international soccer calendar, with many insiders — including Jorge Valdano — questioning the commercial viability and overall purpose of the competition.
