The Socceroos: Australia’s Most Watched

The Socceroos' historic victory against Peru, which sealed Australia’s place at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, had Australians glued to their screens with Network 10’s broadcast reaching 568,000 viewers nationally, making it the most-watched program of the morning with 70.2% share in Under 50s.

The winner takes all Intercontinental play-off, which kicked off at 4.00 am AEST on Tuesday, June 14, was a nail bitter from start to finish, with no goals scored after regulation time and extra time. However, it was the green and gold of the Socceroos who prevailed in a dramatic penalty shootout, 5-4, which sees Australia claim their spot in a fifth consecutive (and sixth overall) FIFA World Cup.

This Friday, 17 June 2022, will mark the 100th Year Anniversary since the Australian men’s national football team played their first A International, and it’s only fitting that the Socceroos will be competing on the biggest stage in the world football, the FIFA World Cup, in 2022.

Football Australia Chief Executive Officer James Johnson said: “Network 10’s broadcast figures of Tuesday’s must-win Intercontinental play-off match are incredible but not unexpected given how strong the brand is and how important the Socceroos are to all Australians.

“Across Tuesday, the Socceroos trended Number 1 across Australia on both Twitter and YouTube, and was the most searched term across all categories on Google – reflecting the pride, the intrigue, and the popularity of the current squad and the Socceroos rich history, which has been one hundred years in the making.

“This is an incredibly exciting period for Australian Football with our U23 Men’s team in the semi-finals of the AFC U23 Asian Cup tonight, the Commonwealth Bank Young Matildas will contest the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup Costa Rica 2022™ in August, then the Socceroos are off to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ in November before our Commonwealth Bank Matildas take centre stage on home soil as Australia co-hosts the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™ with New Zealand.

Qatar Quest Complete: Socceroos Secure Qualification To Fifth Consecutive FIFA World Cup™


“Football Australia would like to call out the work of our broadcast partner, Network 10 and Paramount+ and acknowledge their support of Australian football and particularly of our national teams, with the ratings success of Tuesday a reflection of their passion for the World Game,” concluded Johnson.

The Socceroos will face New Zealand in two friendlies during September to honour 100 years of competition between the trans-Tasman rivals, with details for the Australian match – which will double up as a World Cup send-off for the Socceroos – to be announced shortly.