Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has overturned a controversial decision to ban public screenings of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Federation Square, following widespread backlash from football fans, players and sporting figures across Australia.
The dramatic reversal was announced on Thursday, less than a day after management of the Melbourne Arts Precinct (MAP) declared that World Cup matches would no longer be screened at the iconic public venue due to security concerns linked to fan behavior during previous tournaments.
MAP officials had cited incidents during the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, including the lighting of flares and breaches of barricades, as reasons for suspending future football fan gatherings at the square.
However, Premier Allan stepped in to reverse the decision, arguing that the actions of a small group of disruptive fans should not deny thousands of supporters the opportunity to celebrate the tournament together.
“There’s always a risk of bad behaviour from a few individuals at large public events, but security and police will be present and there will be zero tolerance for misconduct,” Allan said in a statement posted on social media.
“The World Cup should bring people together, not keep them apart.”
The initial ban sparked outrage among football supporters nationwide, with several prominent figures openly criticizing the decision.
Sam Kerr reacted to the announcement with a brief but widely shared social media post condemning the move, while former Socceroos captain Craig Foster described the ban as “absurd.”
Federation Square has become synonymous with major football celebrations in Australia over the past two decades, serving as the central gathering point for fans during World Cup tournaments since 2006.
Scenes from the 2022 FIFA World Cup, where thousands of Australian supporters celebrated the Socceroos’ victory over Denmark at the venue, gained international attention and reinforced Melbourne’s reputation as one of the world’s leading sporting cities.
Following the Premier’s intervention, Federation Square management confirmed it would now work closely with Victoria Police and security agencies to ensure safe operations throughout the tournament period.
Authorities said heightened security measures, increased crowd monitoring and strict enforcement against the use of flares or dangerous behavior would be implemented during screenings.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, is scheduled to run from June 11 to July 19.
Australia’s national team, the Australia national soccer team, is expected to attract massive support during the tournament, with fans set to gather at Federation Square for key group-stage fixtures against Turkey, the United States and Paraguay.
Football Australia welcomed the government’s intervention, describing live public viewing sites as an important part of the country’s sporting culture and national identity.
With the ban officially lifted, Federation Square is once again expected to become the focal point of Australia’s World Cup celebrations as excitement builds ahead of the tournament.
