Chelsea Women Open Champions League Group Play Against Austria Wien
The short version
- Chelsea Women host Austria Wien Wednesday, September 23, 2026, at Plough Lane, kickoff 3pm EDT
- US broadcast: CBS Sports Network; streaming on ESPN+, fuboTV and Paramount+
- Erin Cuthbert, Aggie Beever-Jones and Manaka Matsukubo back in training; Lauren James rested
- Austria Wien are first-time Austrian champions who beat Hajduk Split, Farul Constanta and Brann Kvinner to qualify
- First-ever meeting between the clubs
The group-stage curtain-raiser at Plough Lane kicks off at 3pm EDT Wednesday, with US coverage on CBS Sports Network and three streaming options.
Chelsea Women launch their UEFA Women's Champions League group-stage campaign Wednesday, September 23, 2026, hosting Austria Wien at Plough Lane in Wimbledon. Kickoff is set for 8pm local time (3pm EDT), with Miriama Bockova of Slovakia officiating. Forecasts call for clear skies and light winds.
US viewers can watch on CBS Sports Network, with streams available through ESPN+, fuboTV and Paramount+. There is no UK television coverage, where the match streams on Disney+.
Chelsea enter the contest off a 2-0 victory over Birmingham last Saturday, with Melvine Malard adding the second goal after halftime. Head coach Sonia Bompastor said captain Erin Cuthbert, Aggie Beever-Jones and Manuka Matsukubo have returned to training. Lauren James, who missed the Birmingham match, is being held out as a precaution before Sunday's Arsenal fixture at Stamford Bridge.
Austria Wien qualified for the group stage by eliminating Hajduk Split, Farul Constanta and Brann Kvinner. The Austrian champions ended St. Polten's run of domestic titles dating to 2014, claiming the league for the first time in club history. Their lone fitness concern is defender Yvonne Weilharter, who left a league match against LASK injured last month.
Wednesday marks the first meeting between the two clubs. Chelsea faced Austria Wien's rival St. Polten last season and won comfortably.
