KEY POINTS
- NSW, Queensland and South Australia will host big screen viewing sites for the Socceroos’ next World Cup game.
- Australia will take on Argentina on Saturday at 10pm local time in Doha (6am Sunday AEDT).
- It comes after Australia defeated Denmark 1-0 to reach the last 16 for the first time since 2006.
Socceroos fans following the
from Australia will be able to watch the team’s next match live on big screens in public areas.
Premiers and mayors from Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra and Adelaide have all confirmed they will set up live sites for the elimination match against Argentina.
As the country celebrates making it through the group stage, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has responded to
, saying he would consider it if the Socceroos won the entire tournament.
“Too late to call a national holiday after the Socceroos huge win against Denmark last night,” he wrote on Twitter.
“But if we win the #FIFAWorldCup… that might be a different story.”
Fans have flocked to Melbourne’s Federation Square over the past week to watch the group matches, but there has been no equivalent in Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra or Adelaide. That’s now set to change.
Sydneysiders will be able to catch Sunday morning’s match on the big screen at Tumbalong Park in Darling Harbour as part of an alcohol-free public event.
The iconic sails of the Sydney Opera House will get into Socceroos spirit as well, lighting up in green and gold from Saturday night until dawn on Sunday.
For football fans in southwestern Sydney, Earlwood’s Beaman Park is the place to be.
“We’re thrilled to be able to host the live screening as our community is well-and-truly the heart of World Cup fandom,” Canterbury-Bankstown Mayor Khal Asfour said in a statement.
“There’s a real belief in the community in our Aussie team and what they can achieve. They’ve already achieved more than many of us thought they would!”
Other live sites will pop up across the city, including at Liverpool’s Macquarie Mall, and Enmore Park in Marrickville.
Can Sydney and Adelaide compete with Melbourne’s Federation Square World Cup screenings?
01 Dec 2022, 7:04 pm
Can Sydney and Adelaide compete with Melbourne’s Federation Square World Cup screenings?
Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner also confirmed on Thursday that plans are underway for a public viewing of the game in central Brisbane.
“I can confirm we’re talking to the broadcaster about showing our historic match against Argentina live this Sunday morning in King George Square and Queen Street Mall,” he wrote on Twitter.
South Australia Premier Peter Malinauskas earlier announced a live site in Adelaide. The state government, together with the Adelaide Oval, is establishing the site at Telstra Plaza.
Canberrans will also be able to watch the game from a live site at Civic Square, with the match set to be broadcast on a big screen outside the Canberra Theatre Centre.
Access Canberra is also giving licensed venues the opportunity to apply to extend trading hours for the match.
Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews has also hinted discussions are underway to open more or bigger public venues in his state for the Sunday morning match.
Around 8,000 fans were estimated to have gathered in Federation Square to watch the Socceroos play on Thursday morning.
Football fans have been watching the Socceroos’ group games on big screens at Federation Square in Melbourne. Source: AFP / William West
At a press conference, Mr Andrews was asked whether his government would talk to the Melbourne Cricket Ground or other larger venues about live sites.
“I think that there are some discussions going on, not just about other venues, but planning and making sure that Fed Square is as safe and as fit-for-purpose as possible given the expected crowd,” he said.
Australia will face Argentina in their round of 16 match on Sunday 4 December at 6am AEDT (10pm Saturday local time in Doha).
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