Western Sydney Wanderers host Chelsea in pre‑season friendly

Western Sydney Wanderers FC will face English Premier League side Chelsea in a pre‑season friendly at CommBank Stadium in Sydney on 28 July 2026. It is the first meeting between the two clubs.

The Wanderers come into the match after a 2‑0 Australia Cup win over Tigers FC, seeking to improve a poor run of form that saw only one win in their final twelve A‑League matches. Key players highlighted include goalkeeper Lawrence Thomas and new signing Nicolas Milanovic, while veteran midfielder Milos Ninkovic has moved to the coaching staff.

Chelsea arrive after a disappointing 10th‑place Premier League finish and a 2‑1 loss to Sunderland. The club is beginning a new era under newly appointed manager Xabi Alonso, who will oversee his first game in charge. Forward Cole Palmer is under pressure to deliver goals in the revamped tactical setup.