Fulham hosted the opening-round match on Monday, 24 August 2026.
Fulham played Chelsea at Craven Cottage in the final fixture of the 2026–27 Premier League opening round. Chelsea won 3–2, so the home side ended the first matchweek without a point despite scoring twice.
The match completed a schedule spread across four days. Arsenal and Coventry City played on Friday, five fixtures took place on Saturday, three more were held on Sunday, and Fulham versus Chelsea was the lone Monday match.
Fulham’s home venue, Craven Cottage, is one of English football’s best-known grounds and sits beside the River Thames. The club’s opponent, Chelsea, is also based in west London, making the fixture a local derby as well as the closing game of the opening round.