Wellington Phoenix host Melbourne Victory in A-League 2026/27 season opener

Wellington Phoenix will host Melbourne Victory at Hnry Stadium on Sunday, October 18, 2026, in the opening match of the A-League Men 2026/27 season. The fixture marks the beginning of Wellington's 20th season in the competition and serves as the first full-season test for newly appointed permanent head coach Chris Greenacre.

Melbourne Victory arrives after a demanding pre-season schedule that included reaching the Australia Cup final (where they lost to South Melbourne on penalties) and defeating FC Seoul 3-0 in the AFC Champions League Two. Head coach Giovanni Savarese has stated that the competitive fixture list has prepared his squad for the new league campaign. "It's better to have had the busy schedule that we had during the pre-season because otherwise it would have become a little bit more difficult to manage so many weeks that we have had," Savarese said. Victory will be captained by defender Jason Davidson (35), who is poised to make his 50th A-League appearance for the club. Midfielder Louis D'Arrigo remains unavailable due to a hamstring injury.

Greenacre has acknowledged that Wellington enters as underdogs but remains committed to a competitive display. "We'll be underdogs. That's how I've thrived my whole career, being an underdog, and there's no airs or graces around that," he said. "We're here to make a point; we're not going to roll over and die." Greenacre cited Wellington's attacking form at the end of the previous season as evidence that the team can create chances and play engaging football. He also emphasized the importance of establishing Hnry Stadium as a fortress and building a strong home record to attract supporters.

Historically, the clubs have met 57 times in A-League competition. Melbourne Victory leads the head-to-head record with 29 wins compared to Wellington's 14, with 14 draws. Wellington won their most recent meeting 1-0 on May 4, 2026. The match will be broadcast live on Sky Sport 3 in New Zealand and on Paramount+ in Australia, with kickoff at 3 p.m. NZT.