The 2026 A-Leagues All Stars Women game was the second edition of the A-Leagues All Stars Women exhibition match, bringing together some of the leading players from Australia’s A-League Women competition against English Women’s Super League giants Chelsea.
Played on 12 August 2026 at Allianz Stadium in Sydney, New South Wales, the match formed part of the 2026 Sydney Super Cup, the second edition of the tournament. Chelsea delivered a strong performance to secure a 3–0 victory in front of an attendance of 22,137 spectators.
Background
Reports emerged in early December 2025 that Chelsea were being targeted for a major off-season exhibition match against the A-Leagues All Stars Women. The proposed fixture attracted significant interest partly because of Chelsea’s Australian connections, including the presence of prominent Australian players such as Ellie Carpenter and Sam Kerr at the club at the time.
On 8 December 2025, the match was officially announced as part of the 2026 Sydney Super Cup. Allianz Stadium in Sydney was selected as the venue, with the fixture scheduled for 12 August 2026.
The A-Leagues All Stars coaching team was later confirmed in March 2026. Melbourne Victory coach Jeff Hopkins was appointed head coach, with Melissa Barbieri and Maruschka Waldus serving as assistant coaches. Claire Coelho was appointed as the team’s goalkeeping coach.
Chelsea’s Australian connection changed before the match, however. In June 2026, Sam Kerr signed for American club Gotham FC, meaning she was no longer available to represent Chelsea during the Sydney fixture.
A-Leagues All Stars Women Squad
The squad announcement began on 11 July 2026, when experienced Australian international Tameka Yallop became the first player revealed in the 18-player All Stars squad. A new squad member was subsequently announced each day.
Several players brought previous All Stars experience into the 2026 squad. Yallop, Mackenzie Hawkesby, Kayla Morrison and Rebekah Stott had also represented the All Stars in the 2024 edition against another Women’s Super League opponent, Arsenal.
The squad was assembled to represent the quality and diversity of the A-League Women competition, giving Australian-based players an opportunity to compete against one of Europe’s leading women’s clubs on home soil.
Chelsea’s Travelling Squad
Chelsea began revealing members of their travelling squad on 27 July 2026, before announcing their full 26-player squad on 2 August 2026.
One notable player connected to the previous edition of the event was Republic of Ireland international Katie McCabe. She had represented Arsenal in the 2024 All Stars match before signing for Chelsea in June 2026.
Defender Nathalie Björn, who had been included in an earlier squad announcement, was ultimately not named in Chelsea’s final travelling squad.
The Match
The match kicked off at 7:45 pm AEST on 12 August 2026 at Allianz Stadium. Chelsea entered the contest as one of the strongest clubs in English and European women’s football, while the A-Leagues All Stars Women aimed to showcase the growing strength of Australia’s domestic competition.
Chelsea proved too strong on the night, winning 3–0. The English side controlled the match and demonstrated the quality, depth and experience that has made the club a major force in the Women’s Super League.
Isabella Mossin served as the referee for the fixture.
Match Details
- Event: 2026 A-Leagues All Stars Women game
- Date: 12 August 2026
- Venue: Allianz Stadium, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Kick-off: 7:45 pm AEST
- Competition: 2026 Sydney Super Cup
- Result: A-Leagues All Stars Women 0–3 Chelsea
- Attendance: 22,137
- Referee: Isabella Mossin
Significance
Despite the result, the 2026 A-Leagues All Stars Women game was an important showcase for women’s football in Australia. The event provided A-League Women players with the opportunity to face elite international opposition while giving local supporters the chance to watch a major Women’s Super League club in Sydney.
The crowd of more than 22,000 also highlighted the continued interest in high-profile women’s football events in Australia. As the second A-Leagues All Stars Women fixture, following the 2024 match against Arsenal, the Chelsea encounter further strengthened the event’s position as a significant international exhibition in the Australian football calendar.
Chelsea’s 3–0 victory ultimately marked a successful appearance in the 2026 Sydney Super Cup, while the A-Leagues All Stars Women once again demonstrated the value of bringing Australia’s top domestic talent together for major international occasions.