Bankwest Stadium will host a historic A-League/W-League Double-Header to open the 2021/22 season on Sunday 27 December – with home club Western Sydney Wanderers FC to take on newcomers Macarthur Bulls in a Round 1 A-League blockbuster.
The match will mark the first time that the season has opened with a double–header, with the two competitions joining forces at the home of the Wanderers, Bankwest Stadium.
Carl Robinson is set to coach in his first competitive fixture for the club with the clash against the Bulls in another historic moment for football. The season opener kicks off at 6.30pm.
Internationals including Nicolai Muller, Graham Dorrans and Simon Cox are set to star in the opening round as well as young Australian talents Keanu Baccus, Tate Russell and Tass Mourdoukoutas.
It will be expansion club Macarthur FC’s A-League debut match and they will have ex–Westfield Matildas boss Ante Milicic as coach and ex-Socceroo Mark Milligan as captain.
The Wanderers’ Westfield W-League team will open the season with a cracking match against Melbourne Victory.
This first match will be an opportunity for Wanderers members and fans to catch new recruits Margaux Chauvet and Libby Copus-Brown alongside returning talents including Georgia Yeoman-Dale, Leena Khamis and Wanderers Player of the Year Courtney Nevin.
Western Sydney Wanderers CEO John Tsatsimas said he was proud that the club was hosting such a historic fixture.
“We are very excited to host the very first double header to open the Westfield W-League and A-League 2020/21 seasons,” said Tsatsimas.,
“Personally I am looking forward to our members, partners and fans returning to Wanderland in what has been a challenging year.
“We are one club here at the Wanderers and the double header is a fantastic opportunity for us to showcase what the teams have been working on during the pre-season and we can’t wait to get back in action.”
A summer festival of football begins with 18 matches played over eight days, including a Westfield W-League and A-League Grand Final rematch between Sydney FC and Melbourne City FC at ANZ Stadium on Wednesday 30 December.
Head of Leagues, Greg O’Rourke said: “We are kicking off with a summer of football – a December start, games broadcast six days a week, and more young, Australian talent on the pitch than ever before, with more than 40 Olyroos and Young Socceroos and Matildas in the two leagues.
“We’ve always had an ambition to align to the A-League and W-League seasons, so to be able to do that this year is a big step forward. The later than usual season start also means that we have more alignment with the rest of the game.”
