The Victorian government has overturned a decision to ban World Cup matches from being shown on large outdoor screens at Federation Square in Melbourne, according to BBC Sport.
The reversal ends what had become a point of considerable public contention. Federation Square is Melbourne's central civic gathering place, and the prospect of fans being denied the chance to watch matches there together had drawn widespread criticism in the weeks preceding the tournament.
BBC Sport reported the ban's removal but did not detail the original grounds on which it had been imposed, nor the precise mechanism by which the Victorian government chose to act. The speed of the reversal suggests the political pressure generated by the initial decision was difficult to sustain.
The 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, carries particular significance for Australian football supporters. The Socceroos' qualification campaigns have historically drawn large public audiences, and communal screenings at venues like Federation Square have become part of how the country engages with major tournaments. Removing that option, even temporarily, ran against a well-established pattern of civic football culture in Melbourne.
It remains unclear whether any conditions have been attached to the reinstatement of the screenings, or which specific fixtures will be broadcast. Those details, along with the practicalities of staging events at the square, will presumably be confirmed by the Victorian government or the venue's operators in due course.