Craven Cottage was scheduled to host Fulham versus Chelsea on the 2026–27 Premier League opening Monday.
The match was listed for Monday, 24 August 2026, with Fulham as the home team. Craven Cottage stands beside the River Thames in west London and is one of English football’s most recognisable traditional grounds.
Chelsea’s home stadium is Stamford Bridge, but Chelsea were the visitors for this fixture. That distinction is the main source of confusion: the clubs are close neighbours, yet the opening-round match was played at Fulham’s ground rather than Chelsea’s.
Craven Cottage has been Fulham’s home since the nineteenth century, apart from periods when redevelopment or temporary arrangements affected its use. The stadium’s riverside setting and historic pavilion help distinguish it from the more modern venues used elsewhere in the Premier League.