The winter break is over and Academy football is back, starting with a Premier League International Cup tie for Chelsea Under-21s at Kingsmeadow. It is that team's first match for a month, and only their second fixture since 8 November, when we wrapped up the Premier League 2 action for 2025 with a comprehensive 4-1 win at Reading.

• Get your tickets for Chelsea Under-21s vs Benfica at Kingsmeadow

Benfica are our next opponents and many members of our Under-21s squad have already faced the Portuguese side this season, representing the Under-19s in a thrilling 5-2 victory at Cobham in the UEFA Youth League. Here is how you can watch our next meeting live...

When is kick-off?

The game kicks off at Kingsmeadow at 7pm (UK time) on Wednesday 7 January.

Where to watch the live stream

You can watch the match live on the official Chelsea website and the Chelsea Official App. The live stream will be available free of charge for supporters anywhere in the world.

How to watch Academy live streams

You can watch the live stream in our Chelsea Under-21s vs Benfica Match Centre by clicking below or via the homepage of the official Chelsea website and Chelsea Official App shortly before kick-off. Ensure that you are registered and logged in with a free Chelsea account to view the stream.

How to watch the highlights

Highlights of the match will be available on the official Chelsea website and app on the morning of Thursday 8 January.

How to get tickets

All supporters with a men's or women's season ticket, or a Chelsea Membership, as well as anyone under the age of 20, can claim one free ticket for our Under-21s' match against Benfica via their online ticket account, until midday on Tuesday 6 January.

All other tickets can be purchased for £4 each online or, from two hours before kick-off, at the Kingsmeadow ticket office.