Chelsea’s preseason tour starts Tuesday in Sydney, where new manager Xabi Alonso will lead his first match as the club’s head coach. The Blues will play Western Sydney Wanderers at Accor Stadium, marking the beginning of a packed summer schedule for the Premier League side.
The match begins at 10:45 a.m. BST (5:45 a.m. PT, 2:45 a.m. ET) on July 28. Alonso won’t have his full squad available, but key players like Cole Palmer and João Pedro are set to appear. Chelsea will field a mix of veterans and young talent, entering the game as clear favorites against a Wanderers team that finished last in the A-League last season.
How to watch the match
U.S. viewers can watch the game on Vital+ or CBS Sports Golazo. In the U.K., CFC+ subscribers will have access, with the service offering all of Chelsea’s preseason matches for £14.99 per month. The platform also includes live academy games and training sessions.
Viewers in Mexico can watch on Claro Sports. Fans outside these regions can use CFC+ as well.
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Western Sydney, under new manager Ufuk Talay, enters the match with modest momentum. Talay’s first game in charge—a 2-0 Australia Cup win over Tigers FC—provided early encouragement after a poor 2025-26 campaign. Tuesday’s match will be only his second as manager, and the difference in quality between the two sides suggests a one-sided result.
Chelsea’s upcoming fixtures
This friendly is the first of six preseason matches for Alonso’s squad. After another Sydney game against Tottenham next Saturday, the Blues will travel to Asia for matches against Juventus in Hong Kong on August 5 and AC Milan in Indonesia. Their tour ends in Malaysia with a game against Johor Darul Ta’zim before returning to London.
The final warm-up match, against Real Sociedad, takes place a week before the 2026-27 Premier League season begins. The schedule reflects Chelsea’s effort to rebuild under Alonso, who took over following a disappointing finish last season.
Preseason tours allow teams to test tactics and give younger players experience against strong competition. For Western Sydney, the match is more about assessing progress under Talay. The A-League season doesn’t start until October, leaving the Wanderers little time to prepare before competitive matches resume.
Alonso’s hiring marked a change in Chelsea’s direction, combining experience with a long-term plan. The Spaniard, recognized for his tactical work at Bayer Leverkusen, takes over a squad in transition. Tuesday’s match won’t show much about the team’s future, but it offers an early look at his methods in a low-pressure setting.
Fans will get their first chance to see new signings and returning loanees in action. The real challenge will arrive when the Premier League season starts—and when Chelsea faces tougher opponents than a team still recovering from a difficult year.
The match also serves as a test for Palmer, who joined the club last summer.
Alonso’s approach may differ from his predecessor’s, but early results won’t define the season.