Chelsea play Western Sydney Wanderers in preseason friendly

Chelsea began their preseason preparations under new manager Xabi Alonso with a friendly match against Australian A-League side Western Sydney Wanderers on Tuesday, July 28, 2026. The game, held at Sydney's Accor Stadium, marked Alonso's first match in charge since his appointment earlier this summer.

The fixture served as the opening contest of Chelsea's extensive preseason tour of Australia and Asia. With many of the club's players who participated in the recent World Cup still on a mandated break, Alonso's first lineup featured a mix of new signings, returning players from injury, and academy prospects. Summer signing Marco Palestra, a wingback acquired from Atalanta, was expected to make his unofficial debut for the club. Other notable players available included Levi Colwill, Romeo Lavia, and Cole Palmer. The squad was without several key figures, including British-record signing Morgan Rogers, who has yet to join the touring party, and World Cup participants such as Enzo Fernandez.

For Alonso, the match represented a first step in implementing his ideas after a challenging end to his previous tenure at Real Madrid. He takes over a Chelsea team that finished 10th in the...