Thursday night games have been retained for the new W-League season after the draw was belatedly revealed on Friday, with less than a month to go before the opening round of matches.

The 2019-20 season kicks off on 14 November when Western Sydney Wanderers host Adelaide United at Marconi Stadium following Fifa’s international break, a decision taken to allow “the best players are showcased from round one”, according to Football Federation Australia.

Sydney FC meet Melbourne Victory on the first Sunday of the season in an eagerly-anticipated Big Blue, while the grand final has been slated for the weekend of 21-22 March next year. Every match this season will be broadcast or streamed live on Fox Sports, ABC, Kayo or the My Football Live app.

The staging of the Women’s World Cup this year had the knock-on effect of pushing back the conclusion of the NWSL in the US, and FFA said it wanted Australia’s top league to start after the NSWL season had reached a conclusion to enable those W-League players with NSWL clubs to return in time.

“We have also held very productive discussions with the NWSL to work collaboratively to the mutual benefit of both leagues in the future,” added FFA’s Head of Leagues Greg O’Rourke.

The release of the long-awaited draw also reveals that there will be breaks in the W-League season to accommodate the international windows in January-February and March next year, when the Matildas are expected to be playing for Olympic qualification.

Twenty players from the Matildas’ World Cup squad have been confirmed to return to the W-League this season, but the biggest drawcard of all, Sam Kerr, will not be back. The Perth Glory star is expected to be on her way to Europe, with the likes of Lyon in France and Chelsea in England possible destinations.

“We’ve been working with Sam’s management now for over a year about her playing career last season, which saw her in the W-League, and this season will see her ply her trade overseas,” O’Rourke told Fairfax. “As such, Sam won’t play in the W-League for this current season, but the door always remains open for her return.”