- Socceroos earned a 1-1 draw despite being heavy underdogs
- The Australian team also had to deal with drama before kick-off
- Next in action against Saudi Arabia on November 14
The Socceroos won many admirers after a horror 1-1 draw with Japan in their World Cup qualifier on Tuesday – but some Australian fans were furious to find matchday coverage was not available on free-to-air television.
Channel 10 showed the Aussies’ recent 3-1 win over China PR in Adelaide, but only viewers who paid for the Paramount+ subscription service could see live action from Saitama.
‘It would have been good if it had been broadcast for free so I could have watched it. You [Socceroos] want our support, but we have to pay to see the match,” said one supporter angrily.
Another asked: ‘Why couldn’t we see the Socceroos play Japan for free? I saw us play against China on free to air a few days ago?
Sports journalist Scott Bailey added: ‘Football Roos World Cup qualifier behind a paywall. T20 World Cup behind a paywall. It’s not great.’
However, some fans defended the decision to hand the broadcast rights to Paramount, with one tweeting: “We’ve had Socceroos games locked and hidden on Foxtel for almost a decade.”
Additionally, X user Alex Mangovsky pointed out that live, free-to-air coverage of Socceroo’s away matches had stopped ‘a while ago’.
The Socceroos won many admirers on Tuesday evening after a gritty 1-1 draw against Japan in their World Cup qualifier
However, some Aussie fans were furious to discover the TV coverage was only on Paramount+
Other supporters pointed out that many Socceroos games over the past decade were only available on Foxtel, and not on free-to-air television.
In chaotic scenes, the Socceroos arrived at the ground very late due to traffic (photo, coach Tony Popovic)
On the pitch, the Socceroos chased shadows at times against the Samurai Blue but failed to register a shot on target.
A huge disappointment appeared on the cards when Shogo Tanaguchi turned the ball into his own net just before the hour mark – only for Socceroos defender Cameron Burgess to do the same in the 76th minute.
Fans were also faced with chaotic scenes just before kick-off as the Aussies arrived at the ground very late due to traffic, with some supporters calling for the match to be postponed as a result.
Coach Tony Popovic was happy with a share of the spoils, with the focus now on Australia’s next qualifier against Saudi Arabia in Melbourne on November 14.
‘It took us a lot of effort to get here. We were told it would take a maximum of 90 minutes. It took us two hours and fifteen, so not ideal,” he said.
‘The result is obviously good for us. “In the current situation, coming to Japan, it is their first goal that they have conceded [in qualifying games].
‘It is an excellent team that has been together for a long time. And for us, we had four practices together.”
Had Australia managed to hold on for a famous win, it would have been their first ever victory on Japanese soil.
After four games, Australia are second in their group with five points, ahead of Saudi Arabia and Bahrain on goal difference.
The two best teams from the group of six countries qualify directly for the 2026 World Cup.