The FIFA Club World Cup commenced with notable victories for Chelsea and Flamengo, while Benfica battled back to secure a draw against Boca Juniors in an eventful opening. The tournament, featuring an expanded 32-team format in the United States, saw varying atmospheres across its venues, with several matches, including Chelsea's opener, played in largely empty stadiums.

Chelsea, under head coach Enzo Maresca, began their campaign with a 2-0 victory over Los Angeles FC in a Group D match. Goals from Pedro Neto in the 34th minute and Enzo Fernandez in the second half sealed the win. Neto's goal came after a pass from Nicolas Jackson, while Fernandez's strike was assisted by new signing Liam Delap, who made his debut from the bench. Maresca expressed satisfaction with the team's performance, especially after a three-week break, highlighting their ability to create chances, secure a clean sheet, and utilize different players. However, he admitted the environment felt "strange" due to the sparse crowd of just over 22,000 at the 71,000-capacity Mercedes-Benz Arena, a sentiment echoed by many observers regarding the tournament's initial attendance figures. Maresca praised his players' professionalism and attitude in adapting to the unique conditions.

In a tense Group C encounter at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Benfica staged a dramatic comeback to hold Boca Juniors to a 2-2 draw. Boca Juniors took a two-goal lead through Miguel Merentiel and Rodrigo Battaglia in the first half. Benfica pulled one back from the penalty spot via Angel Di Maria after a foul on Nicolas Otamendi, following a VAR review that also saw Boca's Ander Herrera receive a red card for protesting. The Portuguese side faced a further challenge when Andrea Belotti was shown a straight red card in the 72nd minute for a high boot. Despite being reduced to 10 men, Benfica pushed for an equalizer, and Otamendi delivered with a thumping header from Orkun Kokcu's corner in the 84th minute. Boca also finished with 10 men after Jorge Figal was dismissed late for a studs-up challenge. Both Boca captain Merentiel and Benfica manager Bruno Lage expressed mixed feelings, with Merentiel noting a "bitter taste" and Lage believing his team deserved to win.

Brazilian giants Flamengo also secured a comfortable 2-0 victory against Tunisian club Esperance in Philadelphia. Uruguayan midfielder Giorgian de Arrascaeta opened the scoring in the 17th minute from an assist by Luiz Araujo, who then doubled the lead himself with 20 minutes remaining. Italy international Jorginho, making his debut for Flamengo after joining from Arsenal, added composure to the midfield and played a key role in the second goal. Flamengo coach Filipe Luis, an ex-Chelsea player, oversaw a dominant display. Like Atlanta, Lincoln Financial Field also had vast sections of empty seats, with attendance around 25,797 in a stadium that can hold nearly 70,000. Chelsea and Flamengo are set to face each other in their next group stage match.