Official announcement by Football Australia
Includes comments by Football Australia CEO James Johnson and Paramount ANZ’s Beverley McGarvey at the 10 News First set in Sydney, and breakdown of matches between 10 and Paramount+.
The breakdown shows that the Socceroos’ away matches at the third round of AFC World Cup Asian qualifiers between September and mid 2025 will only be shown on P+.
Thought this was interesting:
Paramount was largely unchallenged in its bidding for the rights, with FA keen to sell the rights to a single party. Both Foxtel and Nine (the owner of this masthead) looked at the rights but made no serious bid, sources familiar with the plans said.
Paramount Australia (Network 10 and Paramount+) will be the home of the CommBank Matildas and Subway Socceroos in Australia, including the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026™ being hosted in Australia and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™.
More than 100 international football games featuring either the CommBank Matildas or Subway Socceroos will be telecast live with at least 50 games on free-to-air television.
In addition, Paramount Australia have acquired exclusive rights to the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027™, in a deal brokered in partnership with IMG.
New package also includes all CommBank Matildas and Subway Socceroos’ friendly matches, all AFC Tournaments (including AFC Asian Qualifiers™), and the Australia Cup Finals through to 2028.
Paramount Australia and Football Australia today announced a landmark multi-year and multi-platform agreement to broadcast an extended package of CommBank Matildas and Subway Socceroos’ games on Network 10 and Paramount+ in Australia, through to 2028.
Under the agreement, Network 10 and Paramount+ will become the exclusive home to all Australian Women’s Senior National Team matches for the next four years, including the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027™, up until the LA 2028 Summer Olympics, and the Men’s Senior National Team matches including all AFC Asian Qualifiers™ (FIFA World Cup 2026™ Asian Qualifiers Final Round) except the FIFA World Cup 2026™.
This comprehensive agreement, which was brokered by Football Australia in partnership with IMG, will ensure Australia’s favourite national sporting teams will be available to 96% of Australian homes.
For the first time ever, this landmark agreement brings together rights for one broadcaster for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026™, in addition to the AFC Asian Qualifiers™ (FIFA World Cup 2026™ Asian Qualifiers Final Round), the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027™, the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™, and international friendly matches for both the CommBank Matildas and Subway Socceroos.
In celebration of Paramount Australia’s support of Australia’s rising stars, fans will benefit immediately, as they can look forward to watching the CommBank Young Matildas take on the world at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Colombia 2024™. The CommBank Young Matildas will play their Colombian hosts in the marquee match on the opening day of the tournament on Saturday 31 August 2024 (local time) and 1 September 2024 AEST.
James Johnson, CEO of Football Australia, commented: “This landmark agreement with Paramount Australia is a pivotal moment for Australian football. It brings unprecedented exposure to our national teams and provides fans with unparalleled access to the CommBank Matildas and Subway Socceroos.
“Innovation is the cornerstone of our approach to sustaining and expanding the influence of Australian football. Reacquiring the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) National Team rights and securing the broadcast rights to the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027™ are strategic moves designed to maximise control over our content, enhance fan accessibility and unlock new revenue streams.
"These rights are integral to our strategy to secure a transformative broadcast deal that we anticipate will set new benchmarks in the valuation of football media rights in Australia. Bringing as much national team content as possible to a multi-platform partner was a key objective from a fan’s perspective, and we are thrilled to achieve this.
"We look forward to our continued partnership with Paramount Australia, a relationship that has been pivotal in delivering high-quality football matches to our fans. This ongoing collaboration will be crucial as we navigate future opportunities and challenges in the dynamic media landscape.
“We also extend our gratitude to the IMG team for their invaluable support in navigating this complex negotiation with all parties involved and our friends at FIFA and AFC for their tremendous support and collaboration,” concluded Mr. Johnson.
This agreement confirms the commitment by Paramount Australia to Australian football which has the highest participation rate of club sport in Australia and is the leading organised sport for children under 14.
The depth and breadth of coverage offered to football fans is unrivalled with Network 10 and Paramount+ reaching 96% of the nation’s homes.
“Australian football fans are the winners here,” said Beverley McGarvey, President of Network 10 and Paramount Australia’s Head of Streaming and Regional Lead.
“Never before have fans had such incredible access to the sport they love, ranging from the A-Leagues all the way through to premium international games broadcast on the one free-to-air network and on one of Australia’s fastest growing streaming platforms.
“Perhaps one of the most appealing aspects of the Paramount Australia agreement, which we see as an exciting extension of our coverage of the A-Leagues, is the opportunity for women’s football.
“All CommBank Matildas’ games at the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 will be telecast by Network 10 on free-to-air television as will all Matildas’ games in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026™,” Ms. McGarvey said.
Network 10 and Paramount+ will broadcast more than 100 internationals over the four-year agreement with at least 50 games on free-to-air television.
Datuk Seri Windsor John, the AFC General Secretary, said: “The AFC is pleased to extend our partnership with Football Australia, which ensures that our world-class competitions will continue to receive the best possible coverage across Australia as we aim to elevate viewership to new heights.
“It has indeed been heartening to see the great passion Australian fans demonstrate for the Asian game and I am confident that this renewed collaboration will reinforce the AFC’s ambitions to maintain football as the number one sport throughout the Continent.”
Dale Levin, SVP & Head of Commercial, APAC for IMG’s media business, added: “This package represents a new era for Australian Football, following the huge momentum off the back of the CommBank Matildas’ success at the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™. Now fans can enjoy exclusive CommBank Matildas and Subway Socceroos coverage on one network for the first time, and also follow the journey of the next generation of Young Matildas and Socceroos.”
IMG has partnered with Football Australia since 2016, supporting its domestic rights process and distributing its international media rights.
Fans can access the broadcasts via Network 10 and/or via Paramount+ subscriptions.
Exclusive behind-the-scenes content, interactive fan engagement opportunities and social media initiatives will be part of this comprehensive coverage.
The full list of rights included in the agreement are:
AFC Asian Qualifiers (FIFA World Cup 2026™ Asian Qualifiers Final Round)
FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027™ (15 matches on Network 10, all matches on Paramount+).
AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026™ (six matches on Network 10, all matches on Paramount+).
AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ (all matches exclusively on Paramount+).
AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026™ and 2028™.
All CommBank Matildas and Subway Socceroos International Friendlies 2025 to 2028 (15 CommBank Matildas Friendlies on Network 10, all matches on Paramount+ and 10 Subway Socceroos’ Friendlies on Network 10, all matches on Paramount+).
Australia Cup Finals 2025 to 2028.
Looks like for the Men’s Asian Cup there won’t be any Men’s soccerooos games on free to air.
Here we go….
Am guessing you’re referring to the article titled?
‘Sick to my stomach’: Why TV deal is a disaster for football
What’s the consensus of the article? My News login doesn’t seem to give me access to read this.
Try reading it on one of the local mastheads. My employers subscription worked there.
And yes the article is by Robbie Slater and the new TV deal “makes him sick to his stomach” because 10 don’t love football and just want the rights for the Matilda’s and that they won’t pay the right amount and their going broke blah blah blah.
Somehow he ties this to the A league when they’re separate rights. Quite frankly he states that the A league isn’t treated right. But they get more free to air games than the past and that no other network would give them 2 free to air games each week. I think he just wants it on Fox because he no longer has a job.
I reckon Slater might be on the money on this one - it’s the only real component of the deal that is currently valuable (and that could really change if their form slides). Theres still considerable residual support from their WWC success
The Socceroos play more games, but that’s largely due to the circuitous qualification methodology that the Asian confederation uses for the world cup
Fox still didn’t bid so… 
I agree with that but that’s one comment in a highly vitriolic opinion piece. He is clearly bitter about things.
surely if Socceroos or Matildas reach the last stage of the knockout tournaments for the Qualifiers or the Olympic tournaments. Now I believe they should be on FTA not exclusive to P+
Not included.
All home games are on FTA as part of the new deal. Matildas tournament games are as well.
I’m often reminded that a stopped clock is right twice a day - I think this is one of those times where that idiom applies.
Ten/P+ may not be a good place for Australian Football, I’m not convinced that Foxtel is either, in fact, I’m not entirely convinced that there is a good place for Australian Football when it comes to media rights the product isn’t great and there is a desire for decent coin that I think massively overvalues the sport. Its almost a case of finding the least worst option (which may be somewhere like Stan or Optus).
The national teams benefit greatly from being on the anti-siphoning list, if it weren’t for that its hard to see how they’d get any regular FTA match coverage.
Young Matildas live on 10 play this morning at the FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Bogotá, Colombia.
Given it’s airing morning our time, would’ve thought 10 might’ve thought to put this on broadcast given the interest in Matildas etc and 2/3 of their matches are in the AM on the weekend.
Looks like a packed stadium, but the quality on 10 play is pretty shocking in SD - you know it’s bad when the ads look better 
HD for me?
Host country means it’s a packed stadium expected.
Then you’d have to add studio/hosting and other elements to it.
Ahh figured it out, you can only select HD as an option when in full screen mode (am watching on my computer) seems silly?
By packed stadium, I just meant for a game to put on TV - always makes a different to the overall feel of the broadcast etc. And aware there would be a little more work involved than just rebroadcasting whatever they’re showing but they’re not exactly brimming with live sport at the moment.
The 10play watermark is so big, wish they’d reduce the size of it by like 40%.
Australia Face Off Against Bahrain And Indonesia. Live And Exclusive On 10, 10 Play And Paramount+.
The Subway Socceroos are back in action and ready to serve up more than just foot-long goals as they kick off their FIFA World Cup Third Round Qualifiers this week with a double-header against Bahrain and Indonesia.
First up, Australia are taking on Bahrain at Gold Coast’s Robina Stadium this Thursday, 5 September. Catch all the action on 10, 10 Play and Paramount+, with coverage starting from 7.30pm AEST – because who needs dinner when you’ve got a feast of football?
The Subway Socceroos then jet off to Jakarta for a showdown with Indonesia on Tuesday, 10 September, live and exclusive on Paramount+ from 9.30pm AEST.
Coach Graham Arnold’s side was on fire in the Second Round Qualifiers, scoring 22 goals without letting a single one past their defence. Now, they’re bringing that spotless record into Group C, where familiar foes like Japan and Saudi Arabia await.
Australia have been drawn in to Group C which features Japan, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, China PR and Indonesia. It’s the third consecutive occasion in which the Subway Socceroos have met Japan and Saudi Arabia at this stage of Qualification.
Scheduled to be played from September 2024 to June 2025, the AFC Asian Qualifiers™ – Road to 26 will feature three groups of six teams playing in a home-and-away, round-robin format, offering direct qualification to the FIFA World Cup 2026™ for the top two finishers of each group.
Don’t miss a second of our coverage as the Socceroos tackle this next stage and fight to keep their undefeated streak alive.
Hungry for more? Head to 10 Play for all fixture details.
Live on 10, 10 Bold in Perth, 10 Play And Paramount+.
Indonesia V Subway Socceroos.
Tuesday, 10 September At 9.30pm AEST.
Live And Exclusive To Paramount+.
