The 2026 World Cup runs 11 June to 19 July, and every one of the 104 matches is live and free on SBS and SBS On Demand, as SBS has confirmed. For venues, the timing is the story: the Socceroos meet Türkiye at 5am AEST on Sunday 14 June and the USA at 5am on Saturday 20 June. That’s breakfast trade most pubs and clubs don’t normally see.

Why it matters for venues

A scam wave is riding in with the football. Researchers have logged thousands of fake FIFA ticket sites, counterfeit merch shops and pirate streaming apps carrying banking malware, as reported by The Hacker News. Venues are exposed in two ways: a staff member sideloading a “better stream” onto the bar’s smart TV or media box, and a guest Wi-Fi network suddenly carrying a month of risky match-day traffic alongside your POS and booking systems.

What to do before kick-off

Stream through SBS On Demand on venue hardware — nothing sideloaded, ever. Lock down who can install apps on TVs and media players. Make sure guest Wi-Fi is properly separated from POS, back office and CCTV. Test the stream before your first early-morning session, and brief your staff that fake ticket and merch sites will be doing the rounds among patrons too.

If you’re not sure your venue network would pass that checklist, our hospitality IT team works with venues on exactly this — Wi-Fi separation included.