The Macarthur FC–Western Sydney Wanderers FC rivalry is a rivalry between Sydney-based professional soccer clubs Macarthur Football Club and Western Sydney Wanderers Football Club.
Background The rivalry between Macarthur FC and Western Sydney Wanderers stems from the geographical locations of both clubs within Western Sydney. Macarthur FC represents South Western Sydney, with its home ground, Campbelltown Sports Stadium, in Campbelltown, and its temporary training ground, Fairfield Showground, located in Prairiewood. In contrast, Western Sydney Wanderers represent Greater Western Sydney, with their home ground at Western Sydney Stadium in Parramatta and their training ground at Blacktown Football Park in Rooty Hill. In terms of success, the Wanderers are the most successful club in Western Sydney, having an A-League Premiership and an AFC Champions League title to their name. Macarthur, the younger club, has not to date won an A-League Men Premiership or Championship, but it has twice won national silverware, the 2022 Australia Cup and the 2024 Australia Cup.
Despite being local rivals, Sydney FC is widely regarded as the Wanderers' main rival, with intense and fierce matches in the Sydney Derby. Macarthur FC was initially established in 2018 as a merger between two bids, originally known as Macarthur South West United. They earned their A-League spot in December 2018, and were later renamed and founded as Macarthur FC in May 2019. This transformation was driven by the rapid growth of football's popularity in the club's region, one of the fastest-growing areas in the country. According to Gino Marra, Macarthur's chairman, approximately 35,000 people in the region were not supporting an A-League team, and introducing a local rival was seen as a way to expand the club's fan base within the region.
History The first meeting between Macarthur FC and Western Sydney Wanderers occurred on the opening matchday of the 2020–21 A-League season. The initial date for the match was on 27 December 2020 at Western Sydney Stadium, but due to a COVID-19 outbreak, it was moved three days back to 30 December 2020. Around 10,128 fans were in attendance that day as Macarthur won 1–0 over Western Sydney Wanderers after Mark Milligan scored the only goal from a free kick taken by Beñat. In the returning fixture on 6 February 2021 at Campbelltown, Macarthur drew 2–2 with the Wanderers. Goals from Aleksandar Jovanovic and Aleksandar Šušnjar kept the Bulls in the lead before Graham Dorrans and Simon Cox equalised the match by full-time.
By the end of the season, Macarthur FC finished in sixth with 39 points, above Western Sydney Wanderers, who sat in eighth with 35 points. In the 2021–22 A-League season, Macarthur finished seventh with 33 points, missing out on the A-League Finals Series by 6 points, although finishing higher than the Wanderers who placed in tenth with 27 points. Macarthur FC won two out of the three matches against Western Sydney Wanderers, defeating their opponents 2–0 at home that led Wanderers fans to boo their players on the field. Carl Robinson, who made his managerial start in the first meeting against Macarthur, was sacked by Western Sydney Wanderers in January 2022. Macarthur then achieved their first win at home on 13 March 2022, with Ulises Dávila scoring twice to ensure a 3–1 victory over Wanderers. In the 2022–23 season, Western Sydney Wanderers achieved their first win over Macarthur on 1 January 2023, following a 4–0 victory at Western Sydney Stadium. In their next and seventh league meeting, Western Sydney Wanderers won for a second time at home, with another 4–0 victory; Brandon Borrello scored the opening goal before Macarthur's Craig Noone was sent off – all within six minutes of the match. On 8 April 2023, the eighth meeting between the two sides was played at Campbelltown Sports Stadium. 2 goals from Brandon Borrello including a 95th minute equaliser and goals from Lachlan Rose and Al Hassan Toure meant a 2–2 draw was the result by full-time.
Statistics and records
Head-to-head StadiumDrawCampbelltown Sports Stadium92431520Western Sydney Stadium8404915Total176472435
Top goalscorers Note: Players who have scored two goals or more are listed here
Player Club Goals Brandon BorrelloWestern Sydney Wanderers5 Valère GermainMacarthur FC3 Nicolas MilanovicWestern Sydney Wanderers3 Anthony PantazopoulosWestern Sydney Wanderers3 Marcus AntonssonWestern Sydney Wanderers2 Lachlan BrookWestern Sydney Wanderers2 Ulises DávilaMacarthur FC2 Jed DrewMacarthur FC2 Jake HollmanMacarthur FC2 Bozhidar KraevWestern Sydney Wanderers2
Results Competition # Date Rnd Home team Score Away team Goals (home) Goals (away) Venue Attendance 2020–21 A-League 1 30 December 2020 1 Wanderers0–1 Macarthur — Milligan (72) Western Sydney Stadium 10,128 2 6 February 2021 7 Macarthur2–2 Wanderers Jovanovic (18), Šušnjar (58) Dorrans (52), Cox (71) Campbelltown Sports Stadium 4,723 2021–22 A-League Men 3 11 December 2021 4 Wanderers0–2 Macarthur — Uskok (64), Hollman (74) Western Sydney Stadium 8,910 4 12 March 2022 18 Macarthur3–1 Wanderers Noone (8), Dávila (73, 90+8) Antonis (80) Campbelltown Sports Stadium 4,723 5 8 May 2022 11 Macarthur1–1 Wanderers Juric (55) Carluccio (10) Campbelltown Sports Stadium 0 2022–23 A-League Men 6 1 January 2023 10 Wanderers4–0 Macarthur Ngbakoto (16), Bozanic (18), Borrello (70), Najjarine (88) — Western Sydney Stadium 10,751 7 25 February 2023 18 Wanderers4–0 Macarthur Borrello (3), Amalfitano (37), Schneiderlin (56), Nieuwenhof (61) — Western Sydney Stadium 7,051 8 8 April 2023 23 Macarthur2–2 Wanderers Rose (66), Toure (90+1) Borrello (42, 90+5) Campbelltown Sports Stadium 7,534 2023–24 A-League Men 9 1 January 2024 10 Wanderers3–1 Macarthur Antonsson (3), Simmons (12), Yuel (84) Hollman (20) Western Sydney Stadium 11,382 10 4 February 2024 15 Macarthur4–3 Wanderers Germain (18, 45+4, 90+3), Rodrigues (32) Brook (20, 42), Milanovic (28) Campbelltown Sports Stadium 5,102 11 1 April 2024 22 Macarthur1–3 Wanderers Millar (86) Milanovic (57), Kittel (65), Hendrix (70) Campbelltown Sports Stadium 6,2382024–25 A-League Men 12 1 January 2025 11 Wanderers2–3 Macarthur Mata (23), Pantazopoulos (55) Drew (13, 44), Piol (26) Western Sydney Stadium 9,012 13 16 February 2025 18 Wanderers2–1 Macarthur Milanovic (67), Cleur (77) Pantazopoulos (56 o.g.) Western Sydney Stadium 9,243 14 3 May 2025 26 Macarthur1–3 Wanderers Jakoliš (4) Kraev (21), Pantazopoulos (55), Antonsson (73) Campbelltown Sports Stadium 9,2132025–26 A-League Men 15 1 November 2025 3 Macarthur1–1 Wanderers Sawyer (2) Pantazopoulos (82) Campbelltown Sports Stadium 7,605 16 1 January 2026 11 Wanderers0–1 Macarthur — Durán (41) Western Sydney Stadium 8,048 17 28 February 2026 17 Macarthur0–4 Wanderers — Ugarkovic (6), Kraev (24), Fraser (43), Borrello (70) Campbelltown Sports Stadium 5,321
Shared player history Players who have played for both clubs
PlayerMacarthur FC seasonsWestern Sydney Wanderers seasons Nicholas Suman2020–20232016–2020 Antony Golec2020–20222014–2015 Tomi Juric2021–20222013–2015 Jordon Mutch2021–20222021 Jonathan Aspropotamitis2022–20232015–2018 Kearyn Baccus2022–20242014–2018 Ali Auglah2022–20242020–2021 Matthew Jurman2023–present2019–2020 Chris Ikonomidis2024–present2017–2018 Mitch Duke2025–present2019–2021
Player speculations and signings Both Macarthur FC and Western Sydney Wanderers have vied for player signatures in the past. Macarthur FC's captain, Mark Milligan, rejected an offer from the Wanderers and chose to sign with Macarthur instead. His decision was influenced by his relationship with Ante Milicic and the potential for a future coaching role. In early-2020, Matthew Jurman was four-months under contract with Western Sydney Wanderers before interests surfaced from overseas and other domestic clubs. Macarthur FC was reported to be in lengthy negotiations with Jurman despite Wanderers' efforts to extend his contract. Jurman eventually moved on to have spells with Greek club Xanthi and Newcastle Jets, before signing for Macarthur in June 2023.
On 5 December 2019, Macarthur FC declared their interest in Sydney FC midfielder Miloš Ninković, who had six months remaining on his contract. Despite expressing his desire to stay with Sydney FC, Ninković was given a two-week deadline by 5 p.m. to either extend his contract with Sydney FC or sign for Macarthur FC. Macarthur was reportedly offering multi-year contract, with an increased based salary, including a possible coaching role at the club if he was to retire. However, Ninković extended his contract with Sydney FC on 17 December 2019, before ultimately, signing for Western Sydney Wanderers on 3 July 2022 – less than two weeks after his release from Sydney FC.
Honours Competition Macarthur FC A-League Men Premiership01 (2012–13)A-League Men Championship00Australia Cup2 (2022, 2024)0AFC Champions League01 (2014)Total22
See also Sydney Derby (A-League Men)
Notes
References