The query on everyone’s lips is are these attendances simply because followers do probably not care about this revamped Membership World Cup – or might this apathy proceed into the precise World Cup in 2026?

BBC Sport spoke to 2 American journalists to get their ideas.

Doug Roberson of the Atlanta Journal-Structure thinks there have been a number of elements, however “it is not as a result of folks right here do not care about soccer”.

“The folks aren’t right here as a result of it is Monday at 3pm,” he stated. “Frankly I’m shocked there are as many as there are.

“It is a match that does not imply quite a bit to folks within the US as a result of it is new. I might think about paying to return to a match you do not know did not attraction, as a result of the World Cup is coming subsequent 12 months and individuals are making an attempt to economize for that.

“If I have been Fifa, for the World Cup I might have recreation instances the place extra folks might come. It’s one thing to consider – and the ticket costs have been ridiculous.”

Jonathan Tannenwald, chief soccer correspondent for the Philadelphia Inquirer, says Fifa’s advertising is in charge.

“While you come right here you must do a number of advertising,” he stated. “You may’t simply anticipate folks to show up.

“There was no true native organising committee within the US as a result of Fifa have been doing all of it in-house.

“We’ll all present up for the World Cup subsequent summer time, however for the Membership World Cup they wanted to promote it to clarify.

“Will folks present up within the knockout phases? Most likely. Will they present up for Chelsea v LAFC within the group stage when tickets are too costly and the sport is in Atlanta? No. They’re smarter than that. That’s on Fifa.”

BBC Sport chief soccer author Phil McNulty stated “the sight of fifty,000 empty seats will come as an early embarrassment for Fifa”.

“There have been long-held fears that this newest supposedly showpiece match, shoehorned into an already over-crowded calendar after a gruelling season, would wrestle to seize the general public creativeness,” he stated.

“The ocean of empty pink seats as Chelsea beat Los Angeles FC offered grim affirmation.

“A kick-off at 3pm US time on a Monday could have been a contributory issue, whereas Chelsea and Los Angeles may wrestle to draw native curiosity, however the lack of supporters will certainly have felt uncomfortable for Fifa’s prime brass, together with perhaps even its ultra-confident president Gianni Infantino.

“It’s maybe additionally an early warning for Fifa that ticket pricing ought to be real looking, and inside cheap attain, for video games performed in the US at subsequent summer time’s World Cup.

“Fifa’s newest challenge is in its infancy, however this was a really dangerous look so early within the match that it has set a lot retailer by.”