The Wellington Phoenix are inviting all fans, new and old, to come watch the men’s team play in the lead up to the new Isuzu UTE A-League season.
The Phoenix will square-off against newly crowned Chatham Cup champions Wellington Olympic at Martin Luckie Park on Sunday, September 22, with kick-off at 2pm.
The match will be open to the public and will be the feature of a wider community day at the club’s former training ground.
Wellington Phoenix head coach Giancarlo Italiano is looking forward to showcasing his new-look side.
“It’s important the community comes out to Martin Luckie, supports the team and gets to see the different way we’re trying to play this season,” Italiano said.
“Olympic will be a good challenge. They’re going to be favourites to win the National League, so they’ll test us.
“It’ll also be good for our new signings to get a game and continue to gel with our established players.”
The men will also play three A-League sides in behind-closed-doors friendlies in New South Wales before their season opener against Western United at Sky Stadium on Sunday, October 20.
They will head to Sydney next week to play the Newcastle Jets on Tuesday, September 17 before returning home to play Olympic in their community day fixture.
The Nix will head across the Tasman a couple of more times before their campaign starts.
They will play Western Sydney Wanderers in Sydney on Saturday, September 28 and reigning A-League champions Central Coast Mariners in Gosford on Sunday, October 6.
“I’m looking forward to these matches,” Italiano said. “Our pre-season has been a bit disrupted with international commitments and injuries, so it’ll be good to get everyone together and start building towards the first game against Western United.
“These three games against A-League sides are going to be important for getting the necessary conditioning.
“Wanderers and Jets will be tough opponents and I’m especially excited about that Mariners’ game on the eve of the season.”
The Wellington Phoenix were scheduled to travel to China this month to play Chinese Super League team Tianjin Jinmen Tiger F.C. as part of a memorandum of understanding signed between the two clubs in February.
However, the Phoenix and Tianjin have agreed it doesn’t suit either club to be playing each other at this time of year.
The strategic partnership is continuing and the club is working with Tianjin on hosting them in Wellington next year before the Phoenix hopefully tour China in 2026.
Phoenix men’s pre-season fixtures:
vs Newcastle Jets in Sydney on Tuesday, September 17 (behind closed doors)
vs Wellington Olympic at Martin Luckie Park on Sunday, September 22. 2pm kick-off
vs Western Sydney Wanderers in Sydney on Saturday, September 28 (behind closed doors)
vs Central Coast Mariners in Gosford on Sunday, October 6 (behind closed doors)
