The new Phoenix women's football team will kick-off their W-League season on December 3rd in a double header with the men's team.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The Phoenix women will play Western Sydney Wanderers in their inaugural game, while the men will also play the Wanderers on that day.
The venue has yet to be confirmed.
The Phoenix W-League participation was announced a fortnight ago as a part of the competitions expansion.
They are yet to announce any players or coaches.
Both Wellington clubs will play the first part of their respective competitions in Australia with the club hoping that some games will be able to be played at home in the second part of the season.
The A-League season opens on November 19th with the Phoenix to play Macarthur FC, while the W-League starts on December 3rd.
The Phoenix have confirmed that they will play all of the games on Australian soil until at least January 2022, due to the current Covid restrictions.
These restrictions also mean that both squads will play all of their matches within New South Wales during this time - against other NSW-based Clubs - with the Phoenix's base of operations and temporary home venue yet to be confirmed.
All of the Phoenix women's opening four games will be played as double-headers with the Phoenix men.
Both Phoenix squads are expected to travel to New South Wales at the end of October as they continue preparations for the start of their seasons.
Wellington Phoenix General Manager, David Dome says that the Club has been preparing itself to be based in Australia for a portion of the season, due to Covid and the current lack of a Trans-Tasman bubble.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
"As a Club we've learnt over the past two seasons to be as adaptive and flexible as possible, especially with all the challenges that Covid has thrown at us," says Dome.
"We always knew our W-League side would be based in Australia for their inaugural season, and now we can confirm our A-League will spend the first six weeks of the season in Australia as well - with an eye to returning to New Zealand in the new year to play our remaining home matches.
"As with previous seasons, this isn't an easy decision on the players, coaches and staff to have to live out of a suitcase for this amount of time, but that's the environment we're living in at the moment - as always, I am sure all our fans will join with the Club in thanking them for their commitment to the Phoenix and its supporters for the sacrifices they continue to make by doing this."
APL Commissioner of Leagues, Greg O'Rourke said that the Leagues and Phoenix were working closely together to ensure the Phoenix can return home as soon as possible.
"The League is extremely grateful for the sacrifices that Wellington has made - and continues to make - in its re-location and separation from family and friends in order to compete in the Leagues," says O'Rourke.
"We will continue to work closely with Wellington to ensure their return to New Zealand as soon as practically possible, so that a normal home and away season can resume."
A-League Draw
MW1 - 8pm NZT, Sun 21 Nov 2021 AWAY Vs Macarthur FC, Campbelltown Stadium
MW2 - 7pm NZT, Sat 27 Nov 2021 AWAY Vs Central Coast Mariners, Venue TBC
MW3 - 9.40pm NZT, Fri 3 Dec 2021 HOME Vs Western Sydney Wanderers, Venue TBC *
MW4 - 9.40pm NZT, Fri 10 Dec 2021 AWAY Vs Newcastle Jets, McDonald Jones Stadium *
MW5 - 8.40pm NZT, Sun 19 Dec 2021 AWAY Vs Sydney FC, Netstrata Jubilee Stadium *
MW6 - 6pm NZT, Mon 27 Dec 2021 HOME Vs Central Coast Mariners, Venue TBC *
W-League Draw
MW1 - 7pm NZT, Fri 3 Dec 2021 HOME Vs Western Sydney Wanderers, Venue TBC *
MW2 - 7pm NZT, Fri 10 Dec 2021 AWAY Vs Newcastle Jets, McDonald Jones Stadium *
MW3 - 6pm NZT, Sun 19 'Dec 2021 AWAY Vs Sydney FC, Netstrata Jubilee Stadium *
MW4 - 8.40pm NZT, Mon 27 Dec 2021 HOME Vs Newcastle Jets, Venue TBC *
* Denotes Wellington Phoenix A-League / W-League double-header match
