SYDNEY: Football Australia called on Wednesday for a ban on public watch parties for the 2026 World Cup in Melbourne’s Federation Square to be reversed.

The governing body said it was “extremely disappointed” with the decision by Melbourne Arts Precinct, which cited previous “dangerous” fan behaviour in the square.

“The FIFA World Cup is the biggest sporting event in the world and unites Australia’s multicultural communities, while reinforcing our national identity,” said Football Australia chief executive Martin Kugeler. “Live sites create iconic moments for Australian sports fans. Melbourne is one of Australia’s sporting capitals, and this decision goes against this tradition.”

Katrina Sedgwick, chief executive of the Melbourne Arts Precinct, which manages the square, said the behaviour of some fans led to its decision not to host World Cup watch parties.

“This issue is really with a very small group of fans who, unfortunately, behave in a way that is just antisocial and frankly, dangerous,” she told ABC. “The challenge is when you have a crowded square with lots and lots of people and people are smuggling in flares.”

Some people were injured by flares in previous World Cup screenings, Sedgwick said.

“I think on the final night of the last Socceroos game we screened, we counted over 100 flares and fireworks that had been let off in the square.”

Published in Dawn, May 7th, 2026