Kaizer Chiefs FC will face Scottish giants Rangers FC in a behind-closed-doors friendly on July 15, 2026, as new head coach Fernando da Cruz looks to assess his squad before the Betway Premiership season kicks off against Kruger United on August 1.

The clash at the Chiefs’ training ground marks da Cruz’s first real look at his players in action since taking charge just over a week ago. With no fans or media allowed, the game will be played in silence—no live score data will be available—but both clubs are expected to share updates on X.

What’s at stake for Kaizer Chiefs FC?

For da Cruz, this is a chance to identify strengths and weaknesses in his Amakhosi group ahead of the PSL opener. The Scot has already welcomed back Lawrence Shankland, Findlay Curtis, Liam Kelly and John Souttar—all of whom featured at the World Cup with Scotland—while Ivor Pandur, Nicolas Raskin and Thelo Aasgaard remain unavailable due to their own international commitments.

The friendly also serves as a barometer after a poor end to the previous season. Kaizer Chiefs FC finished with two wins, two losses and one draw in their last five games, while Rangers managed just one win from their final five outings. Neither side has met before, so no head-to-head data exists.

How do the clubs stack up?

Rangers arrive off a rough patch, with four losses in their last five competitive matches, while Chiefs’ recent form reads draw, loss, win, loss, loss. Da Cruz will likely rotate heavily to gauge squad depth, especially with the Betway Premiership opener looming.

The match also gives da Cruz a first real look at his coaching structures. With only a week under his belt, the Portuguese gaffer is still mapping out his systems and player roles—this friendly is his best chance to start fixing that.

What comes next for the Amakhosi?

Kaizer Chiefs FC sit third in the Betway Premiership with 54 points from 30 games (15W-9D-6L), 15 points behind league leaders Orlando Pirates. They’ve scored 33 goals and conceded 19, boasting a +14 goal difference and recent form of LWWDL.

The PSL season resumes on August 1 when Chiefs host Kruger United in their first competitive outing under da Cruz. The friendly against Rangers is purely a squad test—no trophies, no bragging rights, just a chance to iron out kinks before the real battles begin.