“A few d---heads”: Backflip over Fed Square World Cup ban hailed

World Cup 2026 Weekly news. We will bring you the latest from around the world as we countdown to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

VIC GOVT ANNOUNCES BACKFLIP

Fed Square will broadcast Socceroos' matches once more after the Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has stepped in and overturned the ban.

Having previously been the live site for previous FIFA World Cups, it was announced that the live site wouldn't broadcast those games amid concerns to poor behaviour.

But in a statement, the Premier confirmed that the government has overturned the Melbourne Arts Precinct's decision that the square would broadcast all Socceroos matches during the tournament.

"Yesterday, Melbourne Arts Precinct decided that Fed Square won't show Socceroos matches on the big screen," it said.

"I disagree with that decision - and I am overturning it.

"The Government will ensure Fed Square has the support it needs to put on the matches this year.

"We're also looking at additional events and live sites, so Victorians have more options to watch.

"Now more than ever, people deserve more free stuff to do together in the city.

"There's always a risk of bad behaviour from a few d---heads at every public gathering, but police and security will be on site, and there'll be zero tolerance for it.

"The World Cup should bring us together, not keep us apart.

"Good luck Socceroos - Victoria is behind you."

Welcoming the decision, SEN's Adam Peacock, who led the calls for change, said: "Won't call it a victory of sorts but I’ll say common sense applied. Fed Square, open to Socceroos fans during the World Cup.

"They will be wonderful events with everyone behind the team. This is the key to it all, it feels like football in this country cant get on the same page a lot of the time but when the Socceross and Matildas play they do.

"Tradition continues, hopefully everyone enjoys themselves and gets behind the team. It does filter back to them. Well done on overruling the decision, we’re pretty happy about it, very happy about it, Love common sense."

BLOW FOR AUSSIE FANS

Federation Square will not host live watch parties for Socceroos matches during the 2026 World Cup because of the poor behaviour of a small handful of people in recent tournaments.

The news will come as a blow to thousands of fans after iconic scenes from the Melbourne landmark were beamed around the world during the Women's World Cup in 2023 and the men's the year prior.

According to the Herald Sun, the decision was made because of a “small number of people at previous screenings which was simply unacceptable and damaging to Fed Square”.

Football Australia CEO Martin Kugeler has joined the chorus of anger towards the decision, calling on fans to encourage the Melbourne Arts Precinct to overturn the call.

“Live sites create iconic moments for Australian sports fans. They bring all Australians together to celebrate and cheer our National Teams competing on the biggest stage," Kugeler said.

“Melbourne is one of Australia’s sporting and multicultural capitals, and this decision goes against this tradition.

“Federation Square has created some of the most memorable moments in Australian sporting history, dating back to the Socceroos’ historic 2006 FIFA World Cup matches and the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

“This decision is disappointing, and we are asking our fans to join us in calling on the Melbourne Arts Precinct and the Victorian Government to correct their decision in the best interests of football fans, local businesses and all Victorians.”

SEN's Adam Peacock has slammed the decision.

“It appears authorities in Melbourne have not allowed the Socceroos World Cup games to be broadcast at Federation Square, one of the great live sites in Australia,” Peacock told SEN 1170 Afternoons.

“We all remember the scenes at the 2023 Women’s World Cup, with the Matildas, all around the country, live sites, fantastic.

“They could not believe the amount of support they were getting in a public sense, that people were getting up at four o’clock in the morning and going down to watch these games as the sun rose in Australia and getting behind the Socceroos.

“For some unknown reason that I can’t make sense of, bureaucracy at its finest, the threat of the smallest of small minority of people doing something untoward ruin it for the vast majority of people who would love to go along.

“15,000 people were watching that Denmark game in 2022, when Matt Leckie scored that goal, and the place went off. They reconvened for the Argentina game, which happened when dawn broke in Australia on the east coast.

“For them to come up with this decision down in Melbourne to say no, we’re locking everyone out of Federation Square because of unruly behaviour… you can stick that so far up where it’s impossible to retrieve, it’s not funny.

“That is one of the most myopic, baseless, stupid decisions that I can think of, and I can only think it’s because of the sport that’s being played, and it’s football.

“For some unknown bloody reason, we continue to have this issue – it’s not unknown, it’s just a complete lack of understanding about people enjoying themselves in a wider sense.

“Melbourne is a city at the moment that has got all kinds of issues with crime, all around the place. Now, you’ve got this communal event that the vast, vast majority of people are actually behaving themselves and enjoying, and there’s a spirit and a feeling about it, and you’re taking that away because you’ve sh-- yourself.

“I cannot believe that they have come up with that decision, and I can only hope that here in New South Wales, that the Minns government, or whoever is planning things in a World Cup sense with live events, don’t think this way, and think more broadly, and only encourage them to do so.

“If you’re going to put 15,000 in the one place, and they’re going to be energetic about what they’re watching, yes, you’re gong to have a couple of issues. I challenge you to go to any sporting event, and there won’t be any kind of issues.

“Deal with them! Think about what is happening with the 99.9 per cent of people that are there and actually enjoying it. Up in Brisbane, hopefully they’ve got some sort of live site for the Socceroos.

“It just makes the blood boil, that decisions are made on the basis of ‘I don’t like the look of that, my goodness, someone is lighting a flare, oh no! Ban it all!’”

“The Herald Sun front page – I remember the picture, it was the smokey going off at Fed Square and it looks spectacular. Yes, okay, if you’re standing next to it, get out of the way, it’s not the end of the world.

“Get stuffed.”

Patrick Clancy, the chair of Football Supporters Association Australia also made his disapproval known.

“The pictures and videos of Fed Square during World Cup 2022 went viral around the world, we want to see this repeated,” he said.

“We most recently saw this again with the Matildas games during the Women’s World Cup in 2023.

“The atmosphere at live sites including Federation Square was extraordinary and the support passionate.”

2.8 billion still "locked out" of World Cup

Donald Trump and Gianni Infantino claim the 2026 World Cup will be the "biggest show on earth" but is that possible when 2.8 billion people remain locked out from actually being able to watch it?

To date, 175 territories have agreed to broadcast terms with FIFA, but China and India remain in deadlock talks.

The two most populous countries in the world have no official rights in place meaning fans will not have vision of the tournament.

It presents a massive issue for the governing body with China accounting for 49.8 per cent of all hours consumed across digital and social platforms during the 2022 edition of the tournament.

“Discussions in China and India regarding the sale of media rights for the FIFA World Cup 2026 are ongoing and must remain confidential at this stage,” a FIFA statement said.

According to Reuters, Reliance-Disney joint venture has offered $20USD million for the rights in India despite FIFA originally asking for five times that amount.

With the tournament getting started on June 12 (AEST) there is little over five weeks for terms to be agreed upon.

Socceroos squad shocks amid Trump motivation

Australia coach Tony Popovic is keen for President Donald Trump to attend his side’s Group clash with the USA at next month’s World Cup.

With just over five weeks until the 2026 edition of the tournament gets underway in America, Mexico and Canada, Popovic is making final arrangements before naming an extended squad next week which will be trimmed to the travelling 26-man team announced on June 1.

Amid a global focus on the tournament and the political storylines accompanying it with speculation Iran could yet withdraw, fury over the expected presence of ICE and visa issues for numerous fan groups, Popovic believes Trump’s presence at their game would motivate his players.

"I don't know if (Trump) wants to come and watch the US play, I'm sure I'd expect him to come and watch them at the World Cup," he said.

"If he chooses to watch Australia, that's wonderful for us. It would make it even more special in trying to win that game."

Last week Australian World Cup hopeful Jackson Irvine went public with his thoughts on Trump saying FIFA awarding him a Peace prize made “a mockery” of the human rights policy.

He also voiced his concerns for LGBTQIA right in the USA.

Undeterred by the player’s stance, Popovic added: "Jackson's a big boy. He has his opinions. My focus is on the team and that's not really something that I've wasted any energy on."

Aus heading to USA

Six A-League players have been named in the Socceroos' pre-training camp to make a final bid to a World Cup call up.

Anthony Caceres, Mitch Duke, Brandon Borrello, Nick D’Agostino, Nishan Velupillay and Socceroos stalwart Mathew Leckie will be joined by UK-based Harry Souttar and Hayden Matthews in Florida.

While so many focus on the up and coming talent in Australia, experience will be key to success at the World Cup, a notion not lost on Popovic.

“We’re all excited about the youngsters. I think I’m the first to say that I’m very excited about the young group coming through and I’m sure in the next four and eight years we should have a good core group of young players to move the Socceroos forward,” Popovic said.

“So there’s an eye on now and there’s an eye on the future but if you watch the game that was just played, Matthew Leckie was the best player on the park. A 35 year-old with no football under his belt. That a young player can’t do as yet.”

Those selected from the right will meet with the rest of the Australia squad in California at the end of this month for a pre-World Cup friendly against Mexico.

Ref dumped from World Cup

FIFA has said it "is aware of the serious allegations" against a referee earmarked to adjudicate at the World Cup after they were arrested over an alleged sexual assault.

After reports were printed in the British media, FIFA has been forced to confirm the individual will no longer be in contention for next month's tournament.

“In the meantime, the match official will not be considered for any FIFA competition matches,” the football governing body said in a statement.

Earlier this month, FIFA published a list of 52 referees, 88 assistant referees and 30 video match officials that had been selected for the 104-match tournament.

“We are monitoring the situation with great concern and will continue to follow developments closely,” UEFA said.