Five-time EPL champions Chelsea face Malaysian champions JDT in a historic pre-season friendly as both teams prepare for the new season.
FIVE-TIME English Premier League (EPL) champions Chelsea FC will face Malaysian champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) for the first time in a pre-season friendly at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Iskandar Puteri on Sunday.
The match, which kicks off at 8 pm, will serve as Chelsea’s final fixture of their Asia-Pacific (APAC) pre-season tour before returning to England to begin preparations for the 2026/2027 Premier League campaign.
Chelsea head coach Xabi Alonso said the club are looking forward to playing in Johor after receiving tremendous support from fans throughout their regional tour.
“The good thing is that wherever we go in the world, the support is always there. The fans make a great effort to come and watch us play. I know some people from JDT, including Luis Garcia, and we’re looking forward to the match in Johor,” he said in a statement today.
The Blues have been fine-tuning their preparations for the new season during the APAC tour, having recently faced Italian club Juventus at the Hong Kong Football Festival and are scheduled to take on AC Milan in Jakarta tomorrow before travelling to Johor.
The London club have also been integrating new signings Danny Welbeck, Geovany Quenda and Joao Pedro into the squad as Alonso continues to build fitness and cohesion ahead of the new campaign.
Meanwhile, JDT head coach Xisco Munoz described the fixture as an important opportunity for both the players and the club.
“Facing a club like Chelsea is an excellent opportunity for our players and our club, in terms of both football and widening the JDT brand. We have great respect for what they have achieved, but we’ll also approach the match with confidence and the ambition to perform at our best.
“Playing a pre-season match in front of our supporters makes it even more special,” he said.
The match will also feature a tactical battle between two Spanish coaches, with Alonso and Munoz expected to use the encounter to further prepare their squads for the upcoming domestic and continental competitions.
