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Ronaldinho's XI vs. Cahill's XI at CommBank Stadium

Tim Cahill to captain legends team against Ronaldinho at CommBank Stadium

  • Tim Cahill to headline exhibition match against Ronaldinho in Sydney as part of “Joga Bonito Tour”
  • “Ronaldinho’s XI vs. Cahill’s XI” to be played on 1 November, 2024 at CommBank Stadium
  • Tickets for Sydney match already on sale, via Ticketek

INCASA.DM has today announced that Australian football legend Tim Cahill will captain a team of local Australian and A-League royalty to face Brazilian icon Ronaldinho in the much-anticipated exhibition match at CommBank Stadium in Sydney on November 1, 2024.

Dubbed “Ronaldinho’s XI vs. Cahill’s XI,” this match marks Cahill’s first appearance on home soil since 2019.

Munich, GERMANY:  Brazilian midfielder Ronaldinho (L) is tackled by Australian midfielder Tim Cahill (R) in their opening round Group F World Cup football match at Munich's World Cup Stadium, 18 June 2006.  The score was 0-0 at half-time.          AFP PHOTO / ROBERTO SCHMIDT  (Photo credit should read ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty Images)
Brazilian midfielder Ronaldinho (L) is tackled by Australian midfielder Tim Cahill (R) in their opening round Group F World Cup football match at Munich’s World Cup Stadium. ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty Images

Cahill’s team will have north of 450 combined Matildas and Socceroos caps, with the complete squad lists set to be unveiled in the coming weeks via social media. This unique showdown promises to deliver an unforgettable experience for football fans.

“I’m really looking forward to coming home and putting on a show with the legend that is Ronaldinho,” Cahill said. “When he asked me to join him I couldn’t say no. It’s going to be great to reconnect with some old teammates too and give the fans a great experience at CommBank stadium,” he added.

Don’t miss your chance to secure tickets for what will be an amazing clash of stars in Sydney. Tickets for “Ronaldinho’s XI vs. Cahill’s XI” are available now via Ticketek, starting at $80.

Make sure to follow the ‘Joga Bonito Tour’ Instagram channel as new information, along with exciting squad announcements, are released in the coming days and weeks.

Visit the website: jogabonitotour.com

CommBank Stadium to host NPL Men’s and Women’s NSW Grand Final doubleheader

Football NSW has announced that the 2024 National Premier Leagues Men’s and Women’s NSW First Grade Grand Finals will be played as a double header at CommBank Stadium on Saturday, 7th September.

Parramatta’s state-of-the-art stadium will play host to some of the best NPL football talent in Australia, with the Men’s and Women’s Grand Finals coming together for the first time in a spectacular end to the 2024 NPL NSW Season.

Confirming Football NSW’s commitment to delivering the best participant and spectator experience, the double header will provide a unique opportunity to witness the top NSW teams in men’s and women’s football going head-to-head for Championship glory.

Football NSW CEO John Tsatsimas was excited about the prospects of bringing the two finals together in a historic event for the NSW football community.

“It is exciting for everyone involved to be able to host both our women’s and men’s top tier competitions at such a prestigious football venue,” he said.

“Football NSW is dedicated to showcasing our competitions and this double header will be a crowning moment in what’s been an exciting season for everyone involved.

“How can you not be excited by the prospect of seeing our best female and male players competing in their biggest game of the season, in front of what we hope will be a healthy crowd supporting our beautiful game.” With the men’s and women’s regular seasons still in the balance, the announcement provides extra motivation for the teams fighting for a Championship Series spot.

Ticketing information will be released soon and, off the back of unprecedented growth in the sport, Football NSW is encouraging the footballing community and the wider public to get out and support some of the state’s top footballing talent.

The 2024 edition will be Footbal NSWs third Grand Final event hosted at CommBank Stadium, with previous NPL Men’s NSW finals taking place in 2019 when APIA Leichhardt FC was crowned Champions and 2022 which saw Blacktown City FC lift the trophy.

2024 NPL Men’s and Women’s NSW Double Header
Saturday, September 7
CommBank Stadium, Parramatta
NPL Women’s NSW Grand Final
Kick-off 2:00pm
NPL Men’s NSW Grand Final
Kick-off 6.00pm

A-Leagues Unite Round at CommBank Stadium

Wanderers To Headline Both Opening And Closing Nights Of A-Leagues ‘Unite Round’ As Part Of Two Double Headers At CommBank Stadium

The Western Sydney Wanderers men’s side will headline the start of the 2023/24 A-Leagues Unite Round with a matchup against Melbourne City at CommBank Stadium on Friday 12 January – as part of a double header that features Macarthur FC v Western United.

The Wanderers Liberty A-League Women’s squad will play host to Melbourne City at CommBank Stadium on the Sunday to conclude the festival of football with an Isuzu UTE A-League Men’s game between Perth Glory v Wellington Phoenix making it another double header.

Unite Round Schedule

Friday 12 January

A-League Men Double Header – CommBank Stadium
Macarthur FC v Western United
Melbourne City v Western Sydney Wanderers
Friday 12 January

A-League Women Double Header – Leichardt Oval
Melbourne Victory v Perth Glory
Wellington Phoenix v Central Coast Mariners
Saturday 13 January

A-League Men Double Header – Allianz Stadium
Central Coast Mariners v Melbourne Victory
Adelaide United v Sydney FC
Saturday 13 January

A-League Women Double Header – Leichardt Oval
Canberra United v Adelaide United
Brisbane Roar v Newcastle Jets
Sunday 14 January

Double Header – Allianz Stadium
A-League Men: Brisbane Roar v Newcastle Jets
A-League Women: Western United v Sydney FC
Sunday 14 January

Double Header – CommBank Stadium
A-League Men: Perth Glory v Wellington Phoenix
A-League Women: Western Sydney Wanderers v Melbourne City
*Match times TBC

The ‘Unite Round’ is being introduced for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons, as the APL’s partnership with DNSW enters its second year. As part of the updated partnership, the hosting rights for the Grand Finals will revert to the traditional format with hosting rights awarded to the highest placed qualifier from the Semi Finals, starting from season 2023-24.

During ‘Unite Round’, the double header matches will be hosted at Allianz Stadium, CommBank Stadium and Leichhardt Oval, and grassroots tournaments for junior boys and girls will take place at venues across Sydney.

A live site at Moore Park will also feature a fan park and viewing party for the AFC Asian Cup match in Qatar between Australia and India’s men’s teams on Saturday 13 January at 10:30pm AEDT.

The Hon Stephen Conroy, Chair of APL, said:

“We saw record crowds in the men’s and women’s finals series last season, and we again saw the appetite for professional football in NSW during the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Having all of our teams play in one place, over one weekend, is a fantastic way to serve up the best of the A-Leagues for our fans.

“We are one of the only leagues in the world where almost every club has both men’s and women’s teams, so we are uniquely positioned to create an event like this.

“We thank Premier Minns and the NSW Government for this fundamentally important partnership and for their continuing support for the development of football in Australia.”

Danny Townsend, CEO of APL said:

“The Unite Round is a brand new experience which brings together all A-Leagues clubs, fans and grassroots players together for the very first time in Sydney in an unprecedented celebration of football. With the women’s domestic attendance record already broken twice on the first day of this season, we are looking forward to welcoming A-Leagues fans, old and new, to experience our leagues.”

“We have worked closely with our clubs and fans to ensure that there are suitable constructive mechanisms for the voices of fans to be heard. Many of the resulting conversations have included the hosting of the Grand Finals, and the strong sentiments around that, and we thank DNSW and Premier Minns for their partnership in creating a truly inclusive experience for our game.”

Premier Chris Minns said:

“Unite Round is great news for the football community, and for NSW.

“This will bring fans and players from around the country together in Sydney.

“I encourage fans to get involved in this festival of football.

Minister for Jobs and Tourism John Graham said:

“This is a chance for fans and players from right around Australia to come together, be united and be part of something special right here in Sydney.

“The Unite Round is a win-win for fans, the game and NSW as it will provide more opportunity for all players and fans to be part of an inclusive football celebration in Sydney.

“Unite Round will also deliver strong economic and community benefits for the people of NSW – it is estimated Unite Round will attract more than 42,000 people to Sydney for the event and generate more than $10.2 million in visitor expenditure for the state’s economy.

Minister for Sport Steve Kamper said:

“Sydney has more football fans and players than any other state and our culture of celebrating major sporting milestones is second-to-none.

“We can’t wait to welcome Australia’s football family to Sydney for the debut A-Leagues Unite Round next January and to see this tradition grow.

“This will be the first sporting code to celebrate a full men’s and women’s round in a single city in Australia.”

For the Isuzu UTE A-League Men, ‘Unite Round’ will be an additional round – making it a 27-game regular season. The existing Round 12 fixtures are being moved to new dates and times. For the
Liberty A-League Women, ‘Unite Round’ will use the existing Round 12 fixtures, keeping the season as a 22-game regular season.

This A-Leagues event is supported by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.

Tickets for A-Leagues ‘Unite Round’ will go on sale from Monday 6 November.

Open Air Live at CommBank Stadium

Matildas Stars Arnold, Fowler and Kennedy Headline Historic Live Fan Event at CommBank Stadium

For the first time since their historic 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup success, Matildas standouts Mackenzie Arnold, Mary Fowler and Alanna Kennedy will reunite in Sydney for a world-first fan-focused event. The inaugural “Open Air Live” kicks off from 7pm on Thursday, 21 December at Sydney’s CommBank Stadium, giving audiences exclusive access to Australia’s most celebrated Matildas stars.

Hosted by Sports Anchor, James Bracey, fans will connect with the Matildas like never before. In a live masterclass, the trio will demonstrate their exceptional skills and candidly discuss their personal journeys, illustrious careers, and unforgettable moments on the field. The event will be truly immersive, featuring stunning visuals and stadium screens to capture the exhilarating match day atmosphere, utilising innovative 4-stage compass setup and advanced audiovisual technology.

Matildas forward and youngest ever player, Mary Fowler said: “I’m excited to be part of the Open Air Live event in Sydney this December. Mackenzie, Alanna and myself will be taking the field at CommBank stadium for a huge night of entertainment, you won’t want to miss this!”

Matildas defender, Alanna Kennedy, added: “I can’t wait to join Mackenzie and Mary on the pitch for an incredible night of entertainment. Everyone is welcome, and we look forward to putting on a great show.”

The Matildas performance in the FIFA Women’s World Cup attracted record-breaking audiences from around the country, capturing the hearts of young and old. The “Open Air Live” event will be an opportunity to get up close to this year’s Aussie heroes.

Legendary goalkeeper for the Matildas, Mackenzie Arnold said that it would be a special moment for them to share with families ahead of the festive season.

“I’m really looking forward to being part of the Open Air Live event at Sydney in December! Bring your families along and join Alanna, Mary and I in sharing our stories and enjoy a great night of entertainment. We can’t wait to see you there.”

Tickets are available now via Ticketek from $49 for general admission and $99 with the addition of an exclusive Meet & Greet photo opportunity. VIP packages are available on request.

Mackenzie Arnold, Mary Fowler and Alanna Kennedy

Event Details

  • Date and Time: Thursday, 21 December 7pm – 9pm
  • Venue: CommBank Stadium, Parramatta, Sydney
  • Tickets are available now from Ticketek

Two Doubleheaders, A New Year’s Day Game And An Autumn Sydney Derby Headline The Wanderers 23/24 Home Season At CommBank Stadium

  • The Wanderers begin their season with back-to-back home games: Sunday 22 October V Wellington Phoenix & Saturday 28 October V Western United;
  • The Red & Black will host a New Year’s Day game V Macarthur FC;
  • The Wanderers one and only home Sydney Derby will be played on Saturday 2 March;
  • This season there will be two home A-League Men’s/Women’s Doubleheaders: Sunday 22 October V Wellington Phoenix & Saturday 2 March V Sydney FC;
  • The Wanderers finish the home regular season on Saturday 20 April V Melbourne City.

The Western Sydney Wanderers will open the first two rounds of the Isuzu UTE A-League men’s 2023/2024 season at home with matchups against Wellington Phoenix on Sunday afternoon (22 October) and against Western United on Saturday night (28 October).

The turn of the new year will present the Wanderers with a great chance to collect some valuable points with 3 of their first 4 games to start 2024 to be played at Wanderland – including a New Year’s Day contest with Macarthur FC.

The Red & Black will once again just play the one home Sydney Derby in season 23/24, with the A-Leagues greatest attraction coming to CommBank Stadium on Saturday 2 March.

It will be a tricky end to the home season for the Wanderers with the final two games in the heart of the West being played against Ross Aloisi’s Brisbane Roar and against back-to-back-to-back premiers Melbourne City.

In addition to the standalone home games, the Wanderers will host two A-League doubleheaders during the season which will feature a Women’s and Men’s game. The first coming on Sunday 22 October against the Wellington Phoenix and then on Saturday 2 March versus Sydney FC.

The full A-Leagues 2023/24 Draw can be found here.

After a strong campaign last season – which saw the Wanderers make the finals for the first time since 2017 – the Red & Black return looking to build on a heartbreaking Elimination Final exit and advance two steps further to the A-League Men’s Grand Final. The Wanderers have brought back Captain Fantastic, Marcelo as well as keeping their Player of the Season, Brandon Borrello who scored a team-high 13 goals last year.

The Wanderers have also brought in a couple of fresh faces with Dylan Pierias, Marcus Antonsson and Lachlan Brook being the standouts.

Western Sydney Wanderers Membership is the best way to show your support to both the Men’s and Women’s teams, while securing your seats at CommBank Stadium for all home matches. Membership enquiries here.

CommBank Stadium To Open As Community Screening Site For Matildas v England Semi-Final

  • Fans will be able to watch the Australia v England FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™ Semi-Final on the big screens at CommBank Stadium on Wednesday night 16 August;
  • Gates open at 6:30pm. Kick-off is at 8pm;
  • Entry is via Gate B off the Stadium concourse near the intersection of O’Connell Street and Victoria Road;
  • Food & Beverage Outlets will be open inside CommBank Stadium;
  • Fans will watch the game from the seating bowl. There will be no access to the playing field;
  • This is a non-ticketed event.

Following the Matildas’ heart stopping win over France in the Quarter Final of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™, the NSW Government will open CommBank Stadium at Parramatta as a screening site to ensure more football fans can cheer on the team in the Semi-Final.

The Matildas will face England in their knockout clash on Wednesday 16 August at Stadium Australia, kicking off at 8:00pm.

The match is already a sell-out and to ensure tens of thousands more fans can watch the match in a community atmosphere, the game will be shown on the big screens at CommBank Stadium, as well as Allianz Stadium at Moore Park.

Any member of the public can attend.

The FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023™ has sold 1.75 million tickets across the tournament’s 64 games.

Wednesday’s match will also be screened at the FIFA Fan Festival™ at Tumbalong Park, in Darling Harbour, which has welcomed more than 202,000 attendees throughout the tournament.

This Wednesday’s match will be the first time the Australian football team has progressed to the Semi-Final stage of a FIFA Women’s World Cup™, with NSW proudly backing the Matildas as they continue on their record-breaking run.

The Sydney Opera House sails will be illuminated green and gold on Wednesday night from 5:50pm, along with other Sydney landmarks, and the NSW Government’s social channels will remain green and gold.

The FIFA Fan Festival™ site continues to screen every game for free on large screens, along with live performances and street food. The FIFA Fan Festival™ site will be open from 5:00pm on Wednesday 16 August.

For information on the FIFA Fan Festival™, visit https://www.sydney.com/events/fifa-womens-world-cup-2023/fifa-fan-festival

The live broadcast screens in Cathy Freeman Park, outside Stadium Australia, will once again be activated for the Matildas’ game, following the application process.

Public screening events will again be held across Sydney and NSW for this significant FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™ game. For more information please visit: https://www.sport.nsw.gov.au/fifawwc

Matildas Live Site

Fans are encouraged to use public transport to travel to the game, the FIFA Fan Festival™ and screening sites. Visit transportnsw.info to plan your trip.

NSW Premier Chris Minns said: “The Matildas’ run at this FIFA World Cup has captured the nation; their Quarter Final win was the highest rating TV event since Cathy Freeman’s 400m gold medal run at the Sydney Olympic Games.

“We’re opening up more big screens at CommBank Stadium and Allianz Stadium – we want to give NSW every chance to break that viewing record.

“This is a once in a generation moment in Australian sport, and I want as many people as possible to be able to share in the excitement of the match in front of big screens with a community atmosphere.”

CommBank Stadium Isuzu UTE A-League Grand Final 2023

Everything you need to know about the A-League Men’s Grand Final at CommBank Stadium

It’s 1 v 2 in this year’s Isuzu UTE A-League Men’s Grand Final as back-to-back-to-back premiers Melbourne City face perennial underdogs Central Coast Mariners in what is sure to be a scintillating final at CommBank Stadium.

Who will you be cheering for on Grand Final night, when a huge celebration of football is planned?

Will you sing for the Yellow and Navy Blue of Central Coast Mariners, or the Sky Blue, Red and White of Melbourne City?

Be here at CommBank Stadium to Witness Greatness on the Biggest Stage.

Tickets on sale now through Ticketek only: click here for Tickets 

Event Day Schedule

6:15pm: Gates Open
7:45pm: A-League Men’s Grand Final: Melbourne City v Central Coast Mariners

Ticketing

  • Melbourne City and Central Coast Mariners Club Members
    – Members receive a 20% discount.
  • General Public
    – on sale from 11am, Wednesday 24 May 2023

Getting to the Stadium

Important Traffic & Transport Information:

Fans are strongly encouraged to ARRIVE EARLY to avoid queues. Parramatta CBD is a short walk from CommBank Stadium and will be a hive of action on Saturday pre-and-post-game. A big crowd is on the way so make sure you are inside the Stadium early to soak up the pre-match atmosphere!

If you intend to drive, there is plenty of parking close to CommBank Stadium in the Parramatta CBD, but leave additional time to park and walk to the Stadium

Valid pre-purchased tickets to the 2022/2023 A-League Men Grand Final at CommBank Stadium include travel on the following transport services, just show your event ticket to Transport staff when boarding services:

  • Sydney Trains and NSW TrainLink Intercity services (non-booked services bounded by Bomaderry, Goulburn, Bathurst, Scone and Dungog stations)
  • Sydney Metro North West services
  • Sydney and Newcastle Light Rail services

Train: 

CommBank Stadium is a 12 to 15-minute easy walk from Parramatta Station – and you can always drop in to a café, eatery or bar on the way! See Route.

Alternatively, you catch a train to Westmead Station then head to CommBank Stadium through Parramatta Park. See Route.

Patrons are advised to take advantage of the regular trains running to and from Parramatta Station to avoid expected heavy congestion and traffic on roads in and around Parramatta.

Trains to Parramatta run every 10 to 15 minutes and bus services will run regularly throughout the night.

Bus:

Plenty of regular route bus services run to and from Parramatta Interchange which is within a 12 to 15-minute walk of CommBank Stadium.

From the interchange head down Argyle St, Church St and take either the Riverside Walk or walk through Prince Alfred Square to get to the Stadium on O’Connell St. See Route.

Alternatively, some bus routes also make stops along O’Connell St outside the Stadium.

Taxi:

The two closest taxi drop-off and pick-up points are located at Marist Place near Victoria Road and Villers Street near Victoria Road.

It is a short walk to CommBank Stadium from each of these drop-off points.

Please check transportnsw.info for any road closures and exclusion zones in place for individual events when arriving by taxi.

Parking:

For fans who intend to drive, there are a number of public parking stations close to the venue for patrons seeking to park in the area including:

  • Wentworth Street Car Park – 1,150 spaces
  • Justice Precinct Car Park – 497 spaces (Hunter Street)
  • Eat Street Car Park – 560 spaces (George Street)

Please note that traffic volume and demand for event parking in the local area is usually high. It’s recommended therefore that you plan your trip and your vehicle parking.

More information on various council and commercial car parks and car parks for vehicles with mobility parking permits is available here.

Travel Packages:

  • Travelling fans from Melbourne can access exclusive travel deals, including an exclusive discount code from Qantas for City fans travelling to Sydney for the Grand Final from Victoria.
  • A-Leagues’ official accommodation partner IHG is also offering fans access to a 15% discount.
  • There will also be special offers in partnership with participating Grand Final teams to support travelling fans, including exclusive offers from Sportsnet Holidays.

Food and Beverage

Make Grand Final Day special and arrive early to enjoy some quality footy fare and beverages while soaking up the big-game atmosphere.

Outside CommBank Stadium, there will be a range of specialty food trucks in the precinct near Gate B which will be selling a number of delicious treats from up to an hour before Gates Open and will be available up to an hour after the event concludes.

CommBank Stadium itself features a range of high-quality food including traditional footy fare like gourmet burgers and hot dogs. Special Grand Final game-day treats include Butter Chicken Loaded Fries (available at Aisle 107 and 115) and the Tandoori Chicken Burger (available at Aisle 126).

CommBank Stadium is conveniently located close to the Parramatta CBD, which offers a multitude of cafes, bars and eateries

Merchandise

Team specific merchandise will be available for sale at two different outlets (Internal Gate A & B) inside the stadium.

Weather

Winter is upon us and the temperatures are getting cooler at night. While every seat is undercover at CommBank Stadium, we recommend dressing for the conditions. For the latest forecast, please click here.

Entry requirements

Corporate Entry: Via Gate F.

Central Coast Mariners Active Support: Via Gate D

Melbourne City Support: Via Gate A

All Other Ticket Holders: Via the Gate on your ticket.

Conditions of Entry: click here

Everything you need

  • General Admission tickets for the A-League Men’s Grand Final at CommBank Stadium on Saturday 3 June are on sale here.
  • You can experience the Grand Final in style with Premium Catered Hospitality options – click here.
  • Visiting Sydney? Why not make a weekend of it. Check out where to stay and play here:.

Enjoy the game!

Information on this page is correct at time of publishing but may be subject to change.

Isuzu UTE A-League 2023 Grand Final at CommBank Stadium

CommBank Stadium Confirmed To Host Isuzu UTE A-League Grand Final Saturday 3 June as Finals Series Launched

  • Isuzu UTE A-League Men’s Grand Final venue confirmed at CommBank Stadium on Saturday 3 June. Grand Final tickets are on sale now via Ticketek with a 20 per cent ticket discount for all club Members;
  • Melbourne City FC, Central Coast Mariners, Adelaide United, Western Sydney Wanderers, Sydney FC and Wellington Phoenix will feature in the Finals Series;
  • Western Sydney Wanderers and Sydney FC will face off in the first-ever Sydney Derby Elimination Final at CommBank Stadium this Saturday night. Tickets are available through Ticketek;
  • A-Leagues official accommodation partner IHG is offering hotel discounts for travelling fans across the finals, and from May 22 Qantas is offering an exclusive discount code travel offer for participating team fans travelling to Sydney for the Grand Final.

The Isuzu UTE A-League Men’s Grand Final has been locked in for Sydney’s CommBank Stadium on Saturday 3 June.

This follows the highly successful Liberty A-League Women’s Grand Final last Sunday, which broke attendance records.

Star players from the six qualifying teams – Adelaide United’s Nestory Irankunda, Melbourne City’s Scott Jamieson, Western Sydney Wanderers’ Marcelo, Sydney FC’s Alex Wilkinson, Central Coast Mariners’ Danny Vukovic and Wellington Phoenix’s Ben Old – came together on Tuesday to officially launch the Finals Series, which will include the first ever Sydney Derby Elimination Final at CommBasnk Stadium this Saturday night.

The Elimination Finals kick off on May 5 and 6 in Adelaide and Sydney with Adelaide United taking on Wellington Phoenix on Friday 5 May at 7:45pm at Coopers Stadium, before the Elimination Final between Western Sydney Wanderers and Sydney FC at CommBank Stadium on Saturday 6 May at 7:45pm AEST, which is on track to be a sell-out game as the fierce rivals face one another in the first ever Elimination Final Sydney Derby.

The winners of the two Elimination Finals will advance to the Semi-Finals, with the first leg of the semis being hosted by the winners of the Elimination Finals on the weekend of May 12-14. In the second leg of the Semi-Finals, Melbourne City will host at AAMI Park (7:45pm) on Friday 19 May while Central Coast Mariners will host at Industree Group Stadium on the Central Coast at 7:45pm on Saturday 20 May.

A-Leagues CEO Danny Townsend said: “This season has gone right down to the wire and we have seen some incredible football across the league. This Finals Series involves 22 international players including all eight Socceroos who were in the men’s World Cup squad last November, five more from the recent Socceroos friendlies and six New Zealand Internationals.

“We are looking forward to four weeks of finals football, including the first ever finals derby.”

In advance of the men’s Grand Final, there will be a series of events and activities which make up the week, including a Grand Final pre-party on Friday 2 June, the Dolan Warren Awards (which will be open to fans for the first time ever) on Thursday 1 June. A-Leagues official accommodation partner IHG is offering hotel discounts for travelling fans across the finals and from May 22 Qantas is offering an exclusive discount code travel offer for participating team fans travelling to Sydney for the Grand Final.

There will also be special offers in partnership with participating Grand Final teams to support travelling fans.

Tickets for the Elimination Finals are ON SALE here!

Tickets for the Second Leg Semi-Finals went on sale at 11am Tuesday for Members, and will go on sale at 12noon Tuesday 9 May for the General Public via Ticketek.

Tickets for the Isuzu UTE A-League Grand Final at CommBank Stadium are now on sale, with a 20 per cent ticket discount for all Club Members.

The A-Leagues Grand Finals are supported by the NSW Government via its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.

Confirmed! Socceroos’ Homecoming Match at CommBank Stadium in March

The Subway Socceroos will return home to Australia for the first time since their history-making feats at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ when they host Ecuador at CommBank Stadium in Sydney on Friday 24 March (8pm kick-off).

With most of the Subway Socceroos’ squad returning to their respective club sides around the world straight after the Round of 16 match against Argentina, the March FIFA International window will be the first time the squad has been able to come home to Australia to celebrate with family, friends, and fans.

“What the Subway Socceroos achieved in Qatar both on and off the pitch was history-making and truly united the nation like no other team could, so it’s fantastic Australian football fans finally get the opportunity to celebrate with the team on home soil with these two matches against Ecuador,” said Football Australia CEO James Johnson.

“Ecuador is a team that competed at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar last year and has good World Cup pedigree. These are the types of matches we will seek to secure for the Subway Socceroos in this next FIFA World Cup cycle and as the team moves towards the upcoming AFC Asian Cup.

“During the FIFA World Cup, we witnessed unrivalled scenes of support with live sites across the country including capacity crowds at Tumbalong Park in Darling Harbour, and we look forward to celebrating together on Friday 24 March at CommBank Stadium.

“Football Australia would like to thank the NSW Government, through their tourism and major events agency Destination NSW, for their continued support of Australian football and our senior national football teams.

“Without the support of such committed event partners over many years, hosting international matches such as these would not be possible,” concluded Johnson.

Subway Socceroos’ Head Coach Graham Arnold said this homecoming series is an opportunity for Australian football and football fans to finally celebrate together the achievements of this team in Qatar.

“It’s fantastic we get this opportunity to gather again as a squad and reflect upon what we achieved at the

FIFA World Cup in Qatar,” Arnold said.

“Throughout the FIFA World Cup, we saw the incredible support the team was receiving back in Australia, and we are very much looking forward to finally celebrating together.”

Subject to availability, Arnold plans to call up a similar looking squad to that which represented Australia with such distinction in Qatar, while acknowledging that this series also presents a strong test on the park for the Subway Socceroos, whose quest to qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2026 starts this November and the AFC Asian Cup™ in early 2024.

“Selection for these two matches is our way of showing our gratitude for what the players sacrificed during the qualifying campaign and their achievements at the World Cup. As further reward, these players will be given the first opportunity to impress the coaching staff and get on the blank selection sheet as we move forward into the next cycle,” concluded Arnold.

NSW Minister for Tourism Ben Franklin said the match would be a fantastic opportunity for football fans to come together to cheer on their local heroes.

“Sydney is celebrating football in a big way, so it is fantastic that the Subway Socceroos will be playing their first home game since the FIFA World Cup 2022TM right here in the Harbour City,” Mr Franklin said.

“Sydney certainly has football fever, and we can’t wait to welcome the players, officials and fans to CommBank Stadium for this exciting match.”

NSW Minister for Sport Alister Henskens said NSW has a huge participation and supporter base for football.

“We recently welcomed home the CommBank Matildas for the Cup of Nations tournament across NSW and later this year Sydney will host the most games of any city for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023TM including

the Final,” Mr Henskens said.

“International football is front of mind for Sydney and NSW right now and it is a privilege to see our national teams play in our state, uniting fans in celebration and inspiring players of all levels and demographics.”

Tickets for Subway Socceroos v Ecuador in Sydney will go on sale to Football Account holders at 9am (AEDT) Friday 3 March, and to the General Public from 9am Monday 6 March. Tickets will start at $10 for Juniors and $20 for Adults with Concessions starting at $15.

Football Australia can confirm that $1 from every ticket sold for both matches will be donated to the CommBank Pararoos. The CommBank Pararoos are Australia’s national men’s football team for athletes with cerebral palsy, acquired brain injury, or symptoms acquired from stroke.

SUBWAY SOCCEROOS’ WELCOME HOME SERIES – MATCH SCHEDULE

Match Day One

Date: Friday 24 March

Venue: CommBank Stadium, Sydney

Time: 8pm (AEDT)

Tickets: https://premier.ticketek.com.au

Broadcast: Live on 10 in Sydney and Melbourne, 10 Bold in Adelaide, Brisbane, and Perth, and on 10 Play and Paramount+.

Match Day Two

Date: Tuesday 28 March

Venue: Marvel Stadium, Melbourne

Time: 7:30pm (AEDT)

Tickets: https://www.ticketmaster.com.au/

Broadcast: Live on 10 Bold, 10 Play and Paramount+

Sydney to host A-League Men’s and Women’s Grand Finals for next three years

 Sydney will host the Isuzu UTE A-League Men’s, Liberty A-League Women’s Grand Final, the E-League Grand Final and a host of other football related events in a three-year deal, beginning in 2023.

The partnership between the Australian Professional Leagues (APL) and Destination NSW, the lead government agency for the NSW Tourism and Major Events sectors, is designed to develop an engaging Grand Final experience for football fans in Australia and New Zealand.

Danny Townsend, CEO of the APL, said: “The FIFA World Cup 2023 showed that we are a country of football fans and whet the region’s appetite for the FIFA Women’s World Cup next year. But fans don’t want to wait for four years in-between competitions to see our best sporting talent perform.

“Football fans now get the best of both worlds – they can now look forward to a showpiece Grand Final event in a set location, as well as watching A-Leagues and national team stars week-in-week-out at their local A-Leagues team.

“This is a unique opportunity to build a tradition for football fans. When you think about a cup final in England, you think about the trip to Wembley, and we want fans in Australia to look forward to the A-Leagues Grand Finals in the same way.

“We have already broken the previous record for attendance this season in the Liberty A-League Women and have set an objective to make history again with Grand Final attendance in the year that we host the FIFA Women’s World Cup.”

The A-Leagues move mirrors that of major football events around the world choosing a major city for their marquee events and working with it to develop a truly memorable experience for fans.

Minister for Tourism Ben Franklin said the addition of the A-Leagues Grand Finals to Sydney’s annual sporting events calendar would have significant benefits for NSW.

“As the nation’s home of football I am delighted to be partnering with the APL to bring the Men’s and Women’s A-Leagues Grand Finals to Sydney,” Mr Franklin said.

“Sydney is renowned for hosting world-class sporting events and we are going to create a new tradition for Australian football fans, making the Grand Finals a week-long extravaganza that showcases football and the best of the Harbour City.

“Tens of thousands of football fans are expected to flock to Sydney for the A-Leagues Grand Finals and are forecast to inject $26 million of visitor expenditure into NSW.

“This is another incredible addition to the already impressive calendar of world-class major events we are building for Sydney, which is a key pillar of our goal to make NSW the major events capital and premier visitor economy of the Asia Pacific.”

Minister for Sport Alister Henskens said as the state with the greatest footprint on the nation’s football landscape now was an exciting time to showcase the round ball game.

“With the FIFA Women’s World Cup coming and on the back of the Socceroos historic world cup in Qatar, football in Australia has never been stronger,” Mr Henskens said.

“NSW is home to the most clubs in the A-Leagues competition, with the greatest supporter base, most passionate fans, the highest level of football participation and the best football venues, including Australia’s largest rectangular football stadium.

“This new week-long football event will provide football and sports fans with an experience unique to all other codes and cement the A-League Grand Finals amongst the very best sporting events on our national sporting calendar.”

Danny Townsend said that between now and the Grand Finals on 30 April (Women’s), 27 May (ELeague), Saturday 3 June (Men’s), and the Dolan Warren Awards on Thursday 1 June, the priority for his commercial team was to work with the NSW Government to create a ‘must see’ experience for fans.

The marquee fixtures will be supported by a range of other football-related events and activities.

“We are working with transport and accommodation providers to develop special packages for travelling fans, including our Official Hotel Partner IHG who have committed to offer a special discounted rate to travelling fans. Because we have certainty about which city will be hosting the final from a long way out, we are able to build a ‘Festival of Football’ around these major events.”

The A-Leagues Grand Finals are proudly supported by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW and Office of Sport.

APL previously partnered with Destination NSW for the return of the A-Leagues All Stars who took on FC Barcelona at Accor Stadium in front of 70,174 fans . . . the largest event crowd in NSW since 2019.

Forever Everton Superfan Gears Up For The Sydney Super Cup

Story and pictures by Ayush Kumar

Maybe it was the fact Ian Butler was driving his blue Mustang down Everton Rd that gave it away. The number plate EVRTON probably helped too.

Just days out from Everton FC’s arrival for the Sydney Super Cup series, we’ve found a serious contender for the title of No.1 Everton superfan in Australia.

Ian, a 62-year-old father of two from Kellyville in Sydney’s north-west, has followed the storied English Premier League club for more than 50 years. He’s often seen driving his Blues-dedicated Mustang through the streets of Sydney, and even his family dog is called Seamus after the Everton club captain.

Everton FC are coming to Australia for the first time in 12 years to play in the Sydney Super Cup series, with matches against Scottish Premier League champions Celtic FC at Accor Stadium on Sunday 20 November and then Western Sydney Wanderers at CommBank Stadium on Wednesday 23 November.

Born and raised in the UK, at a working-class town called Crewe just 50km from Everton’s home ground Goodison Park, Ian was just eight years old when a local lorry driver started telling him stories about the blue side of Merseyside.

The rusted-on Toffees supporter, who delivered coal to the family farm, took the youngster to his first ever Everton game . . . against Leeds United at Goodison Park in 1968.

There was no turning back from that point and Ian has been a true Blues supporter ever since. He recalls catching the train with high-school mates to every home game to watch Everton play. He even enrolled at the University of Liverpool primarily so he could keep going to every Everton home game.

Ian’s love for Everton FC runs deep in his family as he describes his sons as even more passionate fans of the football club than himself.

The family home at Kellyville features a grand old team poster on the living room wall and there’s also a massive Everton badge on the wall in the TV room. “My wife doesn’t like it very much but it keeps the whole Everton theme going and I think my wife has just accepted it and it’s never going away now,” he said

The Butler family recently got a dog who they named Séamus after the Everton captain Seamus Coleman.

“My eldest boy used to have an Everton number plate as well when he was in NSW but had to give it away when he moved to Victoria as he could not get the same number plate there,” said Butler. “My sons’ rooms are Everton themed as well and they have all the kits, shirts and memorabilia.”

The last time Ian saw Everton play in a stadium was back in 2017 when he visited the UK with his family and witnessed Wayne Rooney score a screamer from the halfway mark against West Ham.

He says he’s counting the days till Everton arrives Down Under for the Sydney Super Cup matches.

“I don’t know which team wins here but I believe we have a good chance of winning both the games. However, honestly I am just really looking forward to see them play live again,” he said.

“Hopefully they bring a good strong side and we’re going to have two exciting contests. I’m especially looking forward to the match against the Wanderers at Parramatta’s CommBank Stadium, with the RBB at one end and us Everton fans behind the goal at the southern end.

“I’m really looking forward to both games and experiencing a live Everton match again.”

While fans keenly wait to see who is selected to play in Sydney as World Cup national selections are also finalised, Ian talks about passionately the players he hopes to see play in Sydney.

“I’d love to see Séamus Coleman obviously and Jordan Pickford, but unlikely this time around due to him being England’s first-choice goalkeeper and will be in the World Cup squad. He looks like he gets a bit emotional so I’d like to see him in real life. It’s also a new team compared to what we saw in the UK in 2017, so it’s a good opportunity to see a new group of players play.”

Leading in to the Sydney Super Cup matches, Ian and every other Everton supporter will be able to get up close and personal to the Blues stars when they appear at an Everton Open Training Session and Fan Party at Accor Stadium from 6:30pm on Friday 18 November.

Tickets and information about the Sydney Super Cup are available at sydneysupercup.com.au

Everton-Aussie Superfans Ready To Bring The Noise To Sydney Super Cup Games This November

Everton superfans Carolyn Polley-Peters and Kosman Thaengthong at CommBank Stadium in the countdown to the Sydney Super Cup games. Pictures: Ayush Kumar

They have followed English Premier League club Everton their entire lives and now superfans Carolyn Polley-Peters and Kosman Thaengthong have called on Blues supporters across Australia to bring the famous Evertonian energy to upcoming Sydney Super Cup games.

Carolyn, from Sydney, and Kosman, from Thailand, are members of the Australian-based Everton Supporters Club and say scores of passionate Blues fans will turn out to see their team play historic games in Sydney.

“It’s really exciting because the last time they were here was 12 years ago, so we’re all pumped to see Everton in Sydney for these games,” said Kosman.

Carolyn reiterated Kosman’s sentiments, saying: “Oh man, it’s amazing, I’ve never seen them play live and I can’t wait to see them beat Celtic and then the Wanderers.”

Everton FC will take on Scottish Premier League champions Celtic at Accor Stadium on Sunday 20 August before lining up against the Western Sydney Wanderers at CommBank Stadium on Wednesday 23 November.

These games are part of a blockbuster three-match Sydney Super Cup series, which will open with Celtic FC taking on Sydney FC at Allianz Stadium on Thursday 17 November.

The Everton-Aussie superfans are aware that the Wanderers have one of the most passionate supporter groups in the A-Leagues so the atmosphere should be amazing when the series comes to a conclusion at CommBank Stadium on 23 November.

Kosman has travelled around Asia to see Everton play in Singapore & Thailand before travelling to Liverpool to watch them play at the famous Goodison Park.

“I like their team spirit,” Kosman said of why he started supporting the Toffees.

For Carolyn, she may have never seen an Everton game live, but she is a football fanatic, having travelled around the world and attended the last four FIFA Women’s World Cups.

Her love for Everton started early: “A girl in Grade 4 who came from England told me you have to go for Everton, so I said, `OK I’ll go for Everton’ and the rest is history, I’m 56 now,” said Carolyn.

The 2022 Sydney Super Cup Schedule is:

Thursday 17 November: Celtic FC v Sydney FC at Allianz Stadium, Moore Park

Sunday 20 November: Celtic FC v Everton FC at Accor Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park

Wednesday 23 November: Everton FC v Western Sydney Wanderers at CommBank Stadium, Parramatta

All the event information and tickets can be accessed at www.sydneysupercup.com.au

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