Australian fans paywalled for Socceroos World Cup qualifier

Australian soccer fans were angered after being forced to pay for a streaming service to watch the Socceroos' World Cup qualifier, despite other qualifying matches being free. The match against Saudi Arabia, which the Socceroos won, was only available on Paramount+ due to broadcasting laws. These laws dictate which sporting events must be shown on free-to-air television, but they didn't apply to this match played outside Australia. This situation sparked debate about balancing commercial interests with the need to make major games accessible to all fans, especially for building a fanbase and inspiring the next generation of players.