Updated May 7, 2026 — 11:07am,first published 10:18am
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Soccer fans will be able to watch this year’s World Cup at Federation Square after the state government overturned the venue’s decision to ban screenings of the tournament due to poor behaviour from viewers in past years.
“Yesterday Melbourne Arts Precinct decided that Fed Square won’t show Socceroos matches on the big screen,” Premier Jacinta Allan said in a statement. “I disagree with that – and I am overturning it.
Socceroos fans celebrate at Federation Square after Australia beat Denmark in 2022.Luis Enrique Ascui
“There’s always the risk of bad behaviour from a few dickheads at every public gathering, but police and security will be on-site and there’ll be zero tolerance for it.”
The decision to cancel the traditional screenings at Federation Square by the Arts Precinct prompted Football Australia and former Socceroos captain Craig Foster to directly call on the state government to intervene.
Matildas star Sam Kerr also slammed Wednesday’s ban, sharing an Instagram post announcing the news captioned with: “Booooooooooo”.
Melbourne Arts Precinct director and chief executive Katrina Sedgwick said on Wednesday the decision was made because of inappropriate fan behaviour at previous viewing sessions, including the lighting of more than 120 flares or fireworks during one match. She said the decision was made without consultation with Football Australia or the state government.
Premier Jacinta Allan and Socceroos coach Graham Arnold (second from right) before a match in 2024 at AAMI Park.AAP
“After the last Socceroos [World Cup] game that we screened, we picked up over 120 flares or fireworks, so we weren’t talking about a small issue – it was very significant,” Sedgwick told 3AW on Wednesday.
Patrick Clancy, the chair of Football Supporters Association Australia, called Allan’s decision to overturn the ban a “fantastic win for common sense”.
“We welcome the Victorian government’s decision. All football fans in Melbourne and Victoria very much look forward to … watching the Socceroos in action,” Clancy said.
“This clearly demonstrated how important Federation Square live sites are to Melbourne football supporters … It is an iconic place to watch the World Cup, whether it’s men’s or women’s.”
Foster, the former captain who initially called the ban ridiculous, welcomed the news as “the right decision”.
“At the same time, I will stress that I don’t support any behaviour from anyone, football fan or otherwise, that puts the safety of anyone at risk,” he said on X.
In a post on X on Thursday morning, the Socceroos thanked the premier: “Fed Square is BACK.”
The Socceroos qualified for this year’s World Cup with a win against Saudi Arabia last June, marking their sixth successive appearance at the tournament.
The World Cup is scheduled to kick off on June 11, with matches played across Canada, the United States and Mexico. The Socceroos will face Turkey in Vancouver on June 14 in their first group stage match.
Melbourne Arts Precinct has faced criticism in the past for cancelling events at Federation Square. Last November, a free performance by Australian rock band Amyl and the Sniffers was cancelled minutes before it was scheduled to commence due to safety concerns.
The Melbourne Arts Precinct and Sedgwick have been contacted for comment.
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Angus Delaney is a reporter at The Age. Email him at angus.delaney@theage.com.au or contact him securely on Signal at angusdelaney.31Connect via email.From our partners