Chelsea to play Perth Glory in Australia

Chelsea will play Perth Glory in July in the English giant’s only Australian preseason friendly this year, the A-League club said today.

The Premier League champions are returning to the Western Australia city for the first time since 1974, with the game taking place at the new Optus stadium, which has a capacity of more than 60,000.

“We will be taking a strong squad to Perth as we prepare for the 2018/19 season,” Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck said in a statement.

“Of course, we have a long way to go in the current campaign but we can already look forward to an exciting preseason.”

Perth lies just a few hours from Southeast Asia and the Western Australia state government is keen to attract fans from the region for the game.

“Football is hugely popular in our key Asian tourism markets including Singapore, Malaysia and China, as well as across Australia,” state tourism minister Paul Papalia said.

“This is a great opportunity for fans in those markets to visit Perth and see one of the most successful Premier League teams of the past 15 years.”

The London club last visited in Australia in 2015, beating Sydney FC 1-0 in a preseason friendly.

MOST VIEWED

12th Cambodia int’l film festival to see return of Hollywood star
Phnom Penh is set to come alive with the magic of cinema as the highly anticipated 12th Cambodia International Film Festival (CIFF) takes centre stage. Boasting an impressive line-up of 188 films from 23 countries, including captivating shorts, feature films, documentaries and animation, the festival promises an
Bareknuckle champion wants Kun Khmer fighter
Dave Leduc, who is the current openweight Lethwei boxing champion in Myanmar, has announced that he will travel to Cambodia this year to challenge SEA Games gold medallist Prum Samnang any time that is convenient, after their planned match later this month in Slovakia was
Struggling Battambang artist dreams of staging full-scale gallery exhibition
Leav Kimchhoth, a 55-year-old artist from Battambang province, is a familiar face to locals and tourists alike on the streets of the riverside in Phnom Penh. The one-armed painter and illustrator often hawks his work near the night market on weekends and public holidays. He
Fresh Covid warnings as Thai hospital fills
A senior health official reminds the public to remain vigilant, as neighbouring countries experience an increase in Covid-19 cases, with the latest surge appearing to be a result of the Omicron XBB.1.5 sub-variant. Or Vandine, secretary of state and spokeswoman for the Ministry of Health,
Five-year-old Hanuman dances his way into hearts of Cambodia
A young talent from a new-established settlement has emerged, captivating the online world with his mesmerising performances of the traditional Cambodian monkey dance. Roeun Kakada is a five-year-old prodigy who has taken the social media sphere by storm with his exceptional dance skills and dedication
New Law on Taxation comes into effect
Cambodia has enacted the eagerly-awaited new Law on Taxation, which aims to improve the national tax regime’s compliance with present and future international standards and economic conditions; encourage accountability, effectiveness and transparency in the collection process; and promote investment in the Kingdom. King Norodom