Pubs and licensed venues in New South Wales and Victoria will be permitted to extend their trading hours to broadcast the Socceroos' World Cup knockout match against Egypt, which kicks off at 4 a.m. AEST on Saturday. This change aims to accommodate fans eager to watch the round of 32 match in a communal setting.
In New South Wales, all broadcasting venues will be allowed to open from 3 a.m., with establishments typically closing at 1 a.m. or 2 a.m. permitted to remain open throughout the night. To support attendees, additional metropolitan train services will operate between 1:30 a.m. and 5 a.m., and select train and light rail services will commence earlier. "These extended trading hours and transport measures will create an amazing festival atmosphere that only football can deliver," said Football Australia chief executive Martin Kugeler.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan announced that all venues broadcasting the game can stay open all night, with last service occurring one hour after the 90-minute match concludes. These extended hours will complement existing live sites at Fed Square and AAMI Park. "Good luck Socceroos – Victoria is behind you," Allan stated.
Pubs and clubs in Queensland must apply to the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation for approval to trade from 3 a.m. to 7 a.m. on game day, provided they are open primarily to broadcast the match. Applications must be submitted by 2 p.m. on Thursday.
Venues in Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory, and the Northern Territory can also apply for extended trading approvals if necessary. The World Cup is a highly anticipated event in Australia, with the Socceroos' previous match against Paraguay drawing 4.84 million viewers on SBS. Saturday's fixture marks the third time the Socceroos have reached the World Cup knockout stage, previously in 2006 and 2022. The match is scheduled to be held at Dallas Stadium in Texas.