Atlanta is one of 11 U.S. cities selected to host matches for the prestigious international tournament. In preparation, Mercedes-Benz Stadium has undergone a significant transformation—most notably the replacement of its artificial turf with a real grass pitch, a complex process that required extensive coordination and planning.

The number of empty seats at Mercedes-Benz Stadium was hard for Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca not to notice during his club’s 2-0 win over MLS side Los Angeles FC in the group stage of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.

Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernandez score for Chelsea as LAFC 10-game unbeaten streak across all competition ends in a 2-0 loss in the FIFA Club World Cup.