Victoria extends trading hours for Socceroos’ World Cup clash with Egypt

Supporters will be able to flock to pubs to watch the Socceroos’ do-or-die match against Egypt in Victoria, the state government has confirmed, matching measures issued by other Aussie states.

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan confirmed she had allowed automatic approval for every pub and licensed venue in Victoria to operate early on Saturday morning as Australia play in a knockout match at the World Cup at 4am AEST.

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Normally in the state, these venues cannot operate, but the Victorian government has special powers under the Liquor Control Reform Act to override laws on a case by case basis.

“The best thing about Victoria during the World Cup is watching our bars, streets and public spaces come to life,” Allan said in a statement.

“Venues showing the broadcast can stay open all night and the last service will be an hour after the match ends.”

Allan also confirmed live sites would be operating at Fed Square and AAMI Park in Melbourne, with a free hot breakfast being offered to spectators at the latter.

This means the state has followed the lead of New South Wales and Queensland, which have implemented similar measures since the start of the tournament.

These allow venues broadcasting the match to open from 3am under extended trading hours.

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It was confirmed they will stay in place for the Socceroos’ Round of 32 match.

Some venues that usually close at 1am or 2am will also be able to remain open throughout the night, rather than needing to briefly closing for a couple of hours before reopening to broadcast the match.

“These extended trading hours are providing a vital boost to our hospitality industry,” Minister for Gaming and Racing David Harris said, adding he expected Sydneysiders to flock to live sites around the city, including at Tumbalong Park in Darling Harbour.

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To help accommodate an increase in people travelling to the live site, the NSW Government has also announced it will run 24-hour transport, with services not stopping overnight as it normally would.

This includes on the Sydney Metro and Sydney Trains network, while the light rail will also run through the night, with services beginning at 2.30am.

It is the second time these measures have been implemented, first being trialled during New Years’ Eve and the Mardi Gras earlier this year.

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“This will be a big win for football fans, public transport and our hospitality operators,” Minister for Transport John Graham said, adding it would help increase safety for spectators.

The measures come after the Queensland Government backflipped on initially barring fans from having a beer during the match.

There was an unwillingness to extend trading hours for the game, but earlier this week changed tack, saying the government wanted to take a “practical approach” to the issue.

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“There’s nothing like coming together with a crowd to cheer on the Socceroos, and we want Queenslanders to be part of that atmosphere,” Attorney-General Deb Frecklington said.

“This is about making it easier for people to get together, support our national team and enjoy the excitement, while still ensuring the safety for Queenslanders and the responsible service of alcohol.”

Australia has gotten behind the men’s national team at the World Cup, with Australia playing all of their matches in the United States.

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The Socceroos finished second in their group to qualify for the knockout stage for the second time in a row, with a famous 2-0 win over Turkiye in their opening match paving the way for their progression.

Tony Popovic’s side will now be looking to win a knockout match at the tournament for the first time ever when they face Egypt, also known as the Pharaohs.

Egypt’s star man, former Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah, is an injury doubt, but it will still be a tense and tight battle, with the winner most likely to face defending champions Argentina.

Australia faced Argentina in the Round of 16 at the 2022 World Cup, but fell to a 2-1 defeat despite a late fightback.

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