Chelsea will play the first of three preseason matches on its first U.S. summer tour since 2016 when it faces Mexican side Club America in Las Vegas on Saturday night.
Under new ownership with American ties, the Blues are reloading ahead of the start of the Premier League season on Aug. 6 at Everton. The club has been making moves on the transfer market, but its two new high-profile signings — Raheem Sterling and Kalidou Koulibaly — are not expected to feature. They could see time in upcoming matches against Charlotte FC (July 20) and Arsenal in Orlando, Fla. (July 23).
Club America, one of the most storied sides in Mexico, will be eager for a rare international test. Coming off an average start to its Liga MX season (1W-1L-1D), Las Aguilas are set for a busy 24-day road trip. After playing Chelsea, matches vs. Manchester City (July 17), Real Madrid (July 21) and MLS side LAFC (Aug. 3) are up next, with two road league matches sprinkled in for good measure: away at Tijuana (July 23) and Leon (July 31).
It’s the third time that these two clubs will face off in an international friendly. Chelsea won the previous two matches in 2009 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas (2-0), and in 2011 at Stanford Stadium in California (2-1).
The Sporting News is following the match live and providing live score updates and commentary.
MORE: Complete Chelsea preseason schedule
Chelsea vs. Club America live score
| 1H | 2H | Final | |
| Chelsea | 0 | — | — |
| Club America | 0 | — | — |
Goals:
None
Chelsea vs. Club America live updates, highlights from preseason friendly
Chelsea 0, Club America 0
Halftime: The result is a fair reflection of a first half with two teams that have been evenly matched. Chelsea’s quality in attack means that they created the best of the chances thanks to two set-piece deliveries by Hakim Ziyech (one headed by Thiago Silva on goal), and a curling attempt from Kenedy which was stopped by the ‘keeper.
Ben Chilwell has been rusty in his return, but Conor Gallagher has been a bright spot as a midfield engine for the Blues, but Kai Havertz isn’t cutting it at center forward. He was inconsistent at the position last season, and at least in this first friendly it’s more of the same from the German international.
41st min.: Sensational stop by Oscar Jimenez in goal for America! He makes the acrobatic dive to stop Thiago Silva’s header on a delicious set piece delivery by Hakim Ziyech.
36th min.: Yellow card for Conor Gallagher who clips Miguel Layun who was making an attacking run. That was late and from behind by Gallagher.
33rd min.: America SUB — Rare goalkeeper sub with Oscar Jimenez coming on for Memo Ochoa, who gets a standing ovation.
29th min.: Conor Gallagher intercepts a ball in midfield and sends an exquisite pass to Kai Havertz who tries to find the top left corner, but the shot is off the mark. Gallagher has been the best Chelsea player so far.
The new kit btw. 😍
🔵 0-0 🟡 [35] #FCSeries pic.twitter.com/fLBpT1M6ZG
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) July 17, 2022
26th min.: Another yellow card for Club America shown to Pedro Aquino for stopping Kai Havertz and a promising Chelsea attack which started with a Thiago Silva defensive header clearance from his own box.
24th min.: What a shot from Kenedy! He gets the ball down the right flank, dances around the America defender and hits a left-footed curling blast that just misses the far post. Goalkeeper Memo Ochoa had a beat on it.
20th min.: Club America wingers Jurgen Damm and Miguel Layun have switched sides, and Damm earns a corner down the right flank. Chelsea ‘keeper Kepa needs to punch away on the ensuing set piece.
18th min.: Both teams are knocking the ball around, but neither side is able to generate much danger to start. Club America is playing toe-to-toe against the 2021 Champions League winners.
9th min.: Hakim Ziyech takes a set piece and tests America’s Memo Ochoa who made the diving save on Ziyech’s low curler.
.@yosoy8a clutch as per 😮💨
🎥 @TNTSportsBR#FCSeries | #CHEAME pic.twitter.com/uNSN9W5mTX
— FC Series (@FC_series) July 17, 2022
4th min.: Already a yellow card. Jurgen Damm gets called for nicking Chelsea right wingback Kenedy on a slide tackle.
1st min.: The match kicks off. Chelsea gets things started.
5 mins before kickoff: Teams are out on the field. Kickoff nears.
Teams are out. #CFC pic.twitter.com/6D3Y9bXVzv
— Simon Johnson (@SJohnsonSport) July 17, 2022
30 mins before kickoff: It’s a great atmosphere at Allegiant Stadium … and we’re still in warmups.
Pitchside watching the Blues warm up. #CFC pic.twitter.com/pknJHnA3y5
— London Is Blue Podcast ⭐️⭐️ (@LondonBluePod) July 17, 2022
Chelsea vs. Club America lineups
Although Raheem Sterling has been training for several days with the Blues, manager Thomas Tuchel has indicated that he’s not likely to play. It’s also too early for new signing Kalidou Koulibaly, who met with the team for the first time Friday.
Armando Broja is out with an ankle/Achilles issue, which Tuchel has said is not a serious injury. Levi Colwill (groin) is out, and Mateo Kovacic was training separately from the group. N’Golo Kante and Ruben Loftus-Cheek did not travel due to their vaccination status.
Chelsea starting lineup (3-4-3, right to left): 1-Kepa Arrizabalaga (GK) — 14-Trevoh Chalobah, 6-Thiago Silva, 31-Malang Sarr — 23-Kenedy, 18-Ross Barkley, 38-Conor Gallagher, 21-Ben Chilwell — 22-Hakim Ziyech, 29-Kai Havertz, 20-Callum Hudson-Odoi
Chelsea bench (21 players):
Goalkeepers (3): Marcus Bettinelli, Edouard Mendy, Teddy Sharman-Lowe
Defenders (7): Marcos Alonso, Ethan Ampadu, Cesar Azpilicueta, Levi Colwill, Reece James, Kalidou Koulibaly, Emerson Palmieri
Midfielders (5): Billy Gilmour, Jorginho, Mateo Kovacic, Mason Mount, Harvey Vale
Wingers/Forwards (6): Tino Anjorin, Michy Batshuayi, Armando Broja, Christian Pulisic, Raheem Sterling, Timo Werner
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Club America definitely wants to brandish an image during these summer friendlies of being the best club in Mexico, but head coach Fernando “Tano” Ortiz did also make it clear that there would be squad turnover for the Chelsea match given that the club played a Mexican league match in midweek.
Rising academy products Roman Martinez and Emilio Lara are likely to see minutes, and there is also speculation that Henry Martin will be the center forward. Uruguayan attacker Federico Vinas was training apart from the team with the same muscle injury that kept him out of the midweek tussle against Toluca. According to reports, Roger Martinez (injury), Salvador Reyes (injury), and Jorge Mere (coach’s decision) did not travel.
Club America starting lineup (4-2-3-1, right to left): 13-Guillermo Ochoa (GK) — 3-Jorge Sanchez, 18-Bruno Valdez, 4-Sebastian Caceres, 206-Mauricio Reyes — 6-Jonathan Dos Santos, 5-Pedro Aquino — 19-Miguel Layun, 8-Alvaro Fidalgo, 25-Jurgen Damm — 21-Henry Martin
Club America bench (12 players): 27-Oscar Jimenez (GK), 14-Nestor Araujo, 2-Luis Fuentes, 23-Emilio Lara, 187-Karel Campos, 202-Iker Moreno, 20-Richard Sanchez, 10-Diego Valdes, 17-Alejandro Zendejas, 200-Roman Arturo Martinez, 201-Sebastian Martinez, 11-Jonathan “Cabecita” Rodriguez
MORE: Why Chelsea wanted Raheem Sterling
How to watch Chelsea vs. Club America: TV channel, live stream
| UK | USA | Canada | Australia | |
| Date | Sun., July 17 | Sat., July 16 | Sat., July 16 | Sun., July 17 |
| Time | 03:00 BST | 22:00 ET | 22:00 ET | 12:00 AEST |
| TV channel | — | Univision, TUDN | — | — |
| Streaming | Chelsea FC site/app | fuboTV, ESPN+ | Chelsea FC site/app | Paramount+ |
U.K. & Canada: The friendly will be streamed on Chelsea’s official site and app (The 5th Stand).
USA: The match will be televised on Univision and TUDN, and both channels are streamed on fuboTV in the USA. ESPN+ will also carry the match for subscribers.
Australia: The match will be streamed on Paramount+ in Australia.