Line up expectations, stats and where to watch as Xabi Alonso’s reign in Australia begins
Xabi Alonso’s time at Chelsea enters the next phase on Tuesday as the Blues take on Western Sydney Wanderers at the 83,500-capacity Accor Stadium.
It is the opening game of the 2026 Sydney Super Cup and the first of five games on Chelsea’s pre-season tour, which continues with the London derby against Tottenham on Saturday before further stops in Hong Kong, Indonesia and Malaysia.
Chelsea finished a disappointing 10th in the Premier League last season, a campaign that saw three different managers in charge, including Calum McFarlane on two separate occasions. Alonso arrived this summer with clear money to restore stability and has already been bolstered by the signings of Morgan Rogers, Marco Palestra, Geovany Quenda and Emmanuel Emegha.
Rogers will not be involved in Australia, however the England international has been given extra time to rest after helping his country to third place at the World Cup before starting work at Cobham.
Alonso said: “Definitely, it’s a great signing. In that position we needed a key player and I’m sure there weren’t many better options than Morgan Rogers. You need players who can make an immediate impact and I’m sure Morgan won’t need much time to adapt to the team, the system and his teammates.”
The Spaniard plans to get the best out of Rogers and close friend Cole Palmer once the pair reunite, even if that project will have to wait for now.
The Wanderers finished last in the 2025/26 A-League season with just 21 points. Alen Stajcic was sacked in January and Ufuk Talay is now in charge.
Talay’s team beat Tigers FC last week in the round of 32 in the Australian Cup.
Western Sydney Wanderers v Chelsea Team News
Chelsea will be without Rogers, Malo Gusto, Pedro Neto, Trevoh Chalobah, Reece James and Enzo Fernández, none of whom have already left.
Estêvão and Jamie Gittens should start but Quenda and Emegha remain in London to deal with minor knocks.
Palmer and João Pedro, both left out of their country’s World Cup squad, are expected to play a major role.
Western Sydney Wanderers will select from their full A-League squad although Talay is likely to make changes as the game progresses.
Western Sydney Wanderers v Chelsea team expectations
WSW: Vidackovic; Madanha, Ferreyra, Pantazopoulos, Gersbach; Scicluna, Thurgate; Di Pizio, Hammond, Gillion; Borrello
Chelsea: Sanchez; Hato, Colwill, Anselmino, Palestra; Lavia, Walsh; Gittens, Palmer, Estevao; João Pedro
How to watch Western Sydney Wanderers v Chelsea: TV and online streams
Western Sydney Wanderers vs Chelsea kick off on Tuesday at 7.45pm Sydney time, 10.45am UK time.
The game is not shown on UK television but can be streamed worldwide via Chelsea’s CFC+ service. Also available on Paramount+ in Australia, DAZN in Japan, VG+ in Norway and Claro Sports across Central and South America.
Western Sydney Wanderers v Chelsea stats
- This is Chelsea’s first game in Australia in over a decade
- The match is the opening match of the 2026 Sydney Super Cup, featuring Tottenham Hotspur, Sydney FC and Juventus women’s team among others.
- Chelsea finished 10th in the Premier League last season under three different managers and caretakers
- The Accor Stadium holds 83,500 people, making it one of the largest venues in the Southern Hemisphere.
Western Sydney Wanderers v Chelsea Prediction
Although Chelsea have an early exit and will be without some fitness, they will face a poor team in Western Sydney.
The class will say here.
Prediction: Western Sydney Wanderers 0-4 Chelsea
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