Former Tottenham Hotspur and England striker Jermain Defoe believes the 2026 Sydney Super Cup represents an incredible opportunity for some of the Isuzu UTE A-League’s finest young talents to showcase their abilities.
In what will be the second edition of the pre-season tournament to be held in the Harbour City, Premier League giants Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur will head Down Under to face off against A-Leagues duo Sydney FC and the Western Sydney Wanderers.
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Furthermore, a selection of the Ninja A-League’s best players will also be featuring during the star-studded tournament, as the A-League All Stars Women face off against Chelsea FC’s women’s side on August 12.
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For Defoe, the opportunity for some of Australian football’s best young talents to go head-to-head against the likes of Chelsea and Tottenham is something he believes can help springboard their careers.
“It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for them, and that’s how they’ll take it, which makes the game better, which helps you, in a way,” said Defoe, when talking to aleagues.com.au.
“It’s pre-season, you need to get fit and prepare for the start of the season.
“It’s an opportunity for these players to show the Tottenham and Chelsea boys how good they are, maybe use it as a shop window.”
He continued: “Because I can imagine all the aspirations are for these players to play in Europe, and playing in the English Premier League will be a dream to follow the likes of Mark Viduka.
“Ut’s just amazing all around, really, but for the boys to to come and get tested like that before the season starts is important.”
The 2026 Sydney Super Cup will see five-time Premier League winners Chelsea take on the Wanderers on Tuesday, July 28 before 2024-25 Europa League winners Tottenham Hotspur face Sydney FC the following evening.
Furthermore, the two Premier League sides will then lock horns on August, 1 when they play out a hotly-contested London Derby on Australian soil for the very first time.
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“It’s not a friendly, though, is it,” smiled Defoe, when discussing the prospect of the two old rivals facing off on foreign soil.
“Listen, any Premier League teams that come over, it’s going to be special but the fact that this fixture, you get to see it live… it’s going to be special for these fans.
“Because even though it’s pre-season, I imagine the game would be the same as if it was a Premier League game, in terms of the intensity and what it means to the players in the club.
“I can’t imagine a manager, Chelsea’s or ours (Tottenham) saying it’s a pre-season game, we’re in Australia, go and have some fun.
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“Nah, you’ll go in to win the game at the end of the day. You’re not playing for points but it’s Tottenham against Chelsea. So give these fans something to cheer about. Give these fans an experience.
“So I’m sure that will be the case.
On the occasion itself, he added: “It means a lot to both clubs, to be honest. Because as players, you probably don’t even realise that (on) the other side of the world you’re getting that sort of love from the fan base.
“To get an opportunity to come over and sort of like, connect with these fans over here, you know, do stuff in the community, and them to actually see that fixture, because it’s a special fixture.
“So the fact that these fans get an opportunity to do that up close, it’s different when you watch it live.
“So I’m excited for the fans, and I’m sure the players are actually looking forward to it.”
