Xabi Alonso is set to take charge of his first match as Chelsea manager this Tuesday, when the club opens its pre-season campaign against Western Sydney Wanderers at Stadium Australia. The fixture is scheduled for 10:45am BST (7:45pm local time) and will be broadcast live on CFC+. It also opens a six-game international tour for the Blues. Chelsea appointed Alonso on 17 May 2026 on a four-year contract, with his tenure beginning on 1 July. This is his first Premier League managerial role. Before joining Chelsea, he had spells with Real Sociedad B and Bayer Leverkusen, followed by Real Madrid.
Supporters in Sydney will get their first look at Alonso’s tactical approach and squad selection. Summer signing Estructura Palestra is among those traveling, alongside established names such as Cole Palmer. Estevao Willian and Joao Pedro are also in the squad. Alonso has described Chelsea as a team with a strong foundation that recruitment and development can improve. “I had a feeling that the very strong base of the squad was very good and with some updates, some improvements, some new signings, we could have a solid team,” he told Sky Sports. The match offers an early glimpse of how new arrivals may fit alongside familiar faces.
CFC+ subscribers will have access to all six pre-season matches. The schedule includes a game against Tottenham Hotspur in Australia, followed by a meeting with Juventus in Hong Kong. Chelsea will face AC Milan in Indonesia and Johor Darul Ta'zim in Malaysia, before taking on Real Sociedad at Stamford Bridge. The annual subscription costs £14.99, while individual match passes are available for £9.99 each. Junior Blue and True Blue+ members are also eligible for access. Further details are available on the Official Chelsea Membership page.
Alongside live match coverage, CFC+ offers exclusive content. Its catalogue includes documentaries such as Samba Blues and original series such as Unlocked, as well as interviews with players and managers. Subscribers can also watch selected live training sessions and full-match replays. The platform’s archive of classic Chelsea fixtures continues to grow. Chelsea encourages fans to update their Official Chelsea App for optimal viewing, including screencasting to a TV. Recent content has featured behind-the-scenes footage of the team's journey to Australia, as well as live coverage of Alonso's open training session.
Pre-season tours have become an impressive part of preparation for top European clubs, giving them a chance to test tactics and integrate signings while connecting with international fanbases. For Chelsea, the tour opens a new managerial era and gives Alonso an early chance to assess squad combinations ahead of the competitive season. The itinerary takes the club to Australia and Hong Kong, then Indonesia and Malaysia, reflecting Chelsea's global reach. Tottenham Hotspur and Juventus are among the high-profile opponents; AC Milan will also provide a demanding test during the build-up. In an interview with Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher, Alonso described the job as a longer-term project: “It’s not that, in year one it’s already done; we know it might take some more years, but the first year is impressive.”
