Western United will kick off its A-League Men’s title defence with a grand final match up against Melbourne City in October.
The fixture for the 2022-23 A-League season was released last week with the season getting underway on October 7.
United defeated Melbourne City 2-0 in the 2021-22 decider and will return to AAMI Park to face City in an away fixture under lights in round one.
It will be the first of three consecutive games at AAMI Park to open United’s campaign, with back-to-back home matches against Sydney and Macarthur.
The first away trip for John Aloisi’s side will be against Central Coast Mariners on October 29 before a return home against Adelaide United and a journey to New Zealand to face Wellington Phoenix, before the league breaks for the 2022 men’s World Cup.
There will be nearly a month between matches for United, who resume action against Perth Glory on December 11.
In other matches, United will face Melbourne Victory in a Boxing Day blockbuster, which is becoming an annual fixture.
United will play two games in Ballarat as they continue their connection with the area. The location of several of United’s home matches are still to be confirmed.
The season will take another break for international fixtures in the final week of March.
The regular season will end on April 28 for United, as they head west to Perth for the second time with finals beginning the following week.
