Johor Bahru: Chelsea to conclude pre-season tour against Johor Darul Ta’zim
Match Details and Broadcast Information
Chelsea is set to conclude their 2026 pre-season tour with a friendly match against Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) in Malaysia. The game is scheduled for Sunday, August 9, 2026, with a kick-off time of 1pm UK time. The venue for this encounter will be the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Iskandar Puteri.
For fans in the UK, the match will not be broadcast on traditional television channels. However, it will be available for live streaming via the Chelsea Official App and the Chelsea website, accessible with a CFC+ subscription. It is important to note that the live stream will not be available in Malaysia. Supporters can also follow minute-by-minute updates through the Chelsea Official App and the club’s website Match Centre, which will provide live text updates, statistics, and imagery throughout the game.
The Match Centre will also be the first place to find the confirmed Chelsea starting XI once it is announced. Following the match, full replays and highlights will be made available on the Chelsea Official App and website.
Johor Darul Ta’zim’s Remarkable Transformation
Johor Darul Ta’zim, often referred to as JDT, has undergone a significant transformation since 2013 when His Royal Highness Tunku Ismail ibni Sultan Ibrahim, the Crown Prince of Johor, acquired the club. Fans had appealed to him to revitalize football in the state, as the club had seen little development for decades.
Under the Crown Prince’s ownership, JDT has achieved remarkable success, including defending their crown for a 13th consecutive season in the Malaysian Super League. The club is also pursuing a historical milestone with an unbeaten league run that began in April 2021, potentially extending to 109 games, which would surpass the world record previously held by Asec Mimosas.
The Crown Prince emphasizes that records are a byproduct of building the club the right way, focusing on their academy, training facilities, medical science, and a culture of winning. He stated, “We chase standards, and the records are what happens when your standards are high enough for long enough.”
The club’s chief operating officer, Alistair Edwards, who played for JDT when they won the Malaysia League and Cup double in 1991, noted the stark contrast in facilities. He described the stadium as “oldish and dilapidated” during his playing days, with training conducted in open fields. Today, JDT boasts a modern training facility equipped with an anti-gravity treadmill and oxygen therapy pods. A new training center, set to open next year, will feature seven pitches and an indoor pitch building shaped like the club’s tiger badge. The new 40,000-seater Sultan Ibrahim Stadium opened in 2020.
JDT‘s model is influenced by European football, with a Spanish touch. Luis Garcia, a former Champions League winner with Liverpool, serves as the chief executive, having joined 18 months ago. Former Watford manager Xisco Muñoz is the head coach, joining last summer. Javier Ribera, the academy director, arrived from Valencia nine years ago, bringing the methodology and philosophy of the Valencia Academy.
The Crown Prince is deeply involved in the club’s operations, signing off on everything. Signs around the stadium reflect this unique culture, with banners declaring “You’re entering the home of the Southern Tigers” and a message in the away warm-up room stating, “To you lads: you’re in the wrong team boys.” The next phase of the Crown Prince’s vision is to establish JDT as a force in the Asian Champions League and to build a club that can compete with the biggest names in football.
Chelsea’s Predicted Line-up
Following their victory against AC Milan in Jakarta, Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso is expected to field a different line-up for the match against JDT. In the previous game, Chelsea secured a win with goals from Joao Pedro and Moises Caicedo. The starting XI for that match included players such as Cole Palmer, Pedro Neto, Danny Welbeck, Wesley Fofana, and Jorrel Hato, with all playing at least 59 minutes. Robert Sanchez, Romero Lavia, Marco Palestra, and Josh Acheampong played the entire match.
Players who came off the bench in the AC Milan game included Geovany Quenda, Nicolas Jackson, Estevao, Mykhailo Mudryk, Reggie Watson, Mamadou Sarr, and Aarón Anselmino. It is anticipated that many of these players will not feature in the starting line-up against JDT. However, Mamadou Sarr, who played only two minutes against AC Milan, could be in contention for a centre-back position.
The predicted starting XI for Chelsea against JDT suggests that Mike Penders will start in goal, with Tosin Adarabioyo in defense. Olutayo Subuloye is also expected to push for minutes. In midfield, Dário Essugo and Reggie Walsh could feature, while Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli, Jamie Gittens, Liam Delap, and Dastan Satpaev are also expected to receive playing time. The match will take place at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Johor, Malaysia, on Sunday, August 9, 2026.
Source: chelseafc.com
Ngozi Adeyemi 