Western Sydney Wanderers vs Chelsea Preview: Kick-Off Time, Team News, Potential XI, How to Watch in the UK
Chelsea will begin the Xabi Alonso era on Tuesday, July 28, when they take on Western Sydney Wanderers at Accor Stadium in the opening match of the 2026 Sydney Super Cup. Kick-off is at 7.45 pm local time, meaning it will be 10.45 am BST for anyone watching from Britain.
It’s a friendly with far too much emotional baggage, due to the humiliation of finishing tenth last season and the managerial merry-go-round with Enzo Maresca, Calum MacFarlane, and Liam Rosenior. Alonso has arrived from Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen, where he masterminded the German club’s first league title, and took up his duties on July 1, having agreed a four-year contract.
All the matches on the tour will be streamed live on CFC+, and an annual subscription costs £14.99. Individual match passes are available for £9.99 for each game. International viewers will be able to watch via Paramount+ in Australia, Sky Italia, DAZN in Germany and Japan, and Claro Sports throughout Latin America.
Alonso has had his preparations slightly disrupted. Emmanuel Emegha has had hamstring trouble in a behind-closed-doors game against Bromley and has been left out of the Australian leg, with Geovany Quenda having a less serious fitness issue. Benoit Badiashile, Axel Disasi, Nicolas Jackson and Marc Guiu were notable absentees, as talks continue over their futures.
Reece James, Enzo Fernandez and club-record signing Morgan Rogers are still resting, following the World Cup, but are expected to return later in the tour.
Included in the 27-man squad are the likes of Cole Palmer, Joao Pedro, Estevao Willian, Liam Delap, Levi Colwill, Wesley Fofana, Jorrel Hato, Romeo Lavia, Dario Essugo as well as academy prospects Reggie Walsh and Ryan Kavuma-McQueen. Alonso is expected to put out completely different teams for each half, giving his fledgling understudies a meaningful audition.
The gap between Chelsea and Western Sydney Wanderers is enormous in terms of quality. We’re predicting a 3-0 win for the Blues.
Potential Chelsea starting XI
Alonso’s blueprint led Bayer Leverkusen to an unbeaten Bundesliga title in 2024 with a 3-4-2-1 formation. However, he changed to a back four at Real Madrid, compromising that system. Now, though, the Spaniard’s favoured three-man rearguard is expected to be unveiled in Sydney.
Wesley Fofana, Levi Colwill and Josh Acheampong could form that central three in front of Robert Sanchez, who will likely be in goal. Marco Palestra and Jorrel Hato are the obvious candidates to bring some life to both flanks as wing-backs and will provide the width that will otherwise be lacking further forward.
The most likely double pivot is Romeo Lavia and Dario Essugo. The latter’s combative instincts are well suited to Lavia’s positional intelligence. Joao Pedro’s ability to fall between the lines fits Alonso’s rotational demands admirably, with Cole Palmer and Estevao Willian the roaming tenants behind him.
