u/jont_96

Watching the SBS World Cup coverage & they often head to the “Hisense Hangout” but made me think could the A-League have an equivalent?

The Paramount Pad? The Isuzu Inn?

Seen a number of posts over last few days across various channels of people celebrating their World Cup travels across to the US & Canada but it seems a decent chunk are now coming home. Particularly from people working in media or social channels.

But surely with the Socceroos run you’d do everything possible to keep following the journey if you’re already over there? Even if it’s out your own pocket? I get life needs to continue but almost is a bucket-list trip!?

(Should also add, I understand cost is a big factor too)

Maybe I’m being a tad unrealistic but has anyone extended their stay to follow the Socceroos through the knockouts?

4.84m people in Australia tuned in for yesterday’s World Cup match between the Socceroos & Paraguay, smashing records!

Always nice to read a feel good story on football’s impact in Australia ❤️

Any plans?

Struggling football club Western United could have just secured its ticket back into the A-Leagues, with a pair of wealthy business tycoons throwing in a massive offer to buy it.

A pair of wealthy Melbourne-based business tycoons have launched an audacious bid to save a struggling former top flight soccer club, with the aim of bringing it back into the professional ranks.

Documents seen by the Herald Sun revealed a bold offer made earlier this month by property developer Intaj Khan and Azeezur Rahaman — the founder of education powerhouse “Formee Education” — to buy A-Leagues outfit Western United.

Under the proposed deal the pair offered to hold a combined 75 per cent stake (37.5 per cent each).

It’s understood the pair submitted financial statements to the A-Leagues competition.

Multiple sources connected to the game confirmed the pair’s interest in the club.

Mr Khan told the Herald Sun he and Mr Rahaman had put together a “strong” proposal to secure the club’s future.

“It’s important that we safeguard the community and also get the club back on track as soon as possible,” he said.

“The club has many challenges. We need local people to work with local kids because of the understanding of the local demographic.”

Mr Khan said it was “sad” to see that while the World Cup was in full swing, Wyndham kids and the club’s loyal supporters faced “uncertainty”.

Their proposed takeover would be a huge boost to its hopes of rejoining the A-Leagues Men’s and Women’s competition after an attempt to regain its licence for the 2026/27 season — which starts in October — was quashed by Football Australia.

Earlier this month it was revealed the former manager of Collingwood superstar Scott Pendlebury, Jason Sourasis, who is now facing a legal battle against the former Pies skipper, was removed from the company behind Western United.

If Western United was to be granted entry back into the A-Leagues competition it would bring the number of teams to 13 in the men’s competition and 12 in the women’s.

The Wyndham-based club beat out Victorian football powerhouse South Melbourne Hellas and a strong bid from a southeast Melbourne-based group in to score an A-Leagues licence in 2018.

Much of the club’s ability to suede Football Australia at the time was a promise to privately build its own stadium on Wyndham Council-owned land in Tarneit.

However, construction of the stadium never commenced, with the club only getting as far as a 5000 capacity training stadium that was used for home games.

The council has also strongly advocated for the government to commit towards building a new railway station across from the proposed stadium site within the next 15 years.

During its short stint as a professional club, Western United – which mainly used AAMI Park as its home ground before moving into Ironbark Fields at Tarneit – won the 2021/22 Championship, defeating cross-city rivals Melbourne City 2-0 in the Grand Final.

By 2036 Wyndham is projected to be home to about 475,000 people.

An Australian Professional Leagues spokesman said the competition would “continue to support the club and ownership group as they reset”.

A Western United spokesman said the club had been “engaging multiple interested parties” with a “view of securing a new ownership model that will set stable foundations and create a sustainable future for the organisation”.

The club believes it has a “pathway to move forward” and secure an “eventual return to the A-Leagues”.

By Vince Rugari, nice read & feel like it’ll be an interesting post-World Cup period for a lot of our Socceroos, plenty of transfer interest

Great read for pre-game on the background of all our Socceroos (warning, does contain many animations)

Seen a few posts around multiple subreddits about lack of media coverage by some outlets for the World Cup (Channel 7 & 9 the main culprits it seems) but honestly those types of grievances aren’t worth your energy.

As others said, there’s no vested financial interests involved so history shows very little coverage will be given until Australia play. Happens with a lot of other international sports too, just the reality of local reporting in Australia.

It’s no different to the various papers, radio networks, media personalities, podcasters & creators/influencers who are suddenly popping up chatting about the World Cup at the moment. Few are doing it cause they care about football in this country, most are doing it to enhance their brand or because there’s an invoice attached to whatever they’re presenting or advertising.

They likely won’t be at the local grounds, NPL or A-League anytime soon, not even a Roos/Tillies friendly unless it’s an invite for free food/drink. It’s just the way it is.

I’ve been there before & occasionally get frustrated from it. But honestly just let it go, plenty of people care about the game here & just make sure you enjoy the football & the World Cup!

Rant over, we’re winning the lot 💚💛

With the World Cup starting next week, naturally there’s going to be a load of hype & a lot of casual interest, both from a fan & media perspective.

Might be going a bit early here but looking to lap up & engage with as much different World Cup content there is out there, mainly from an Australian perspective but can be outside too in a broader sense.

Let me know so far any of the best videos, podcasts, creators, written articles, video episodes, shows, adverts, anything that’s caught your eye so far & that I/we should all check out!

In summary

- Nikos Vergos set to sign with Newcastle Jets from Melbourne Victory

- Lachie Bayliss expected to sign with Auckland FC

- Mark Natta expected to sign with Cesena in Serie B (Italy)

- Lucas Scicluna expected to sign with Perth Glory

- Eli Adams expected to leave for overseas (RB Salzburg, Derby County, FC Kobenhavn, Gent, FC Nurnberg, Holsten Kiel & Gamba Osaka all interested)

Fairly damning article on the new TV deal signed with Paramount. Some fair points made around visibility I must say but in saying that I've been very happy with their coverage, just need additional marketing but that's been a problem since Season 1.

World Cup 2026 Broadcast Team & times locked in by SBS. Also getting the Half Time Final show, vodcasts & live watchalongs on TikTok

Broadcast Team:
- Niav Owens
- Claudio Fabiano
- Harry Kewell
- Lydia Williams
- David Basheer
- Luke Wilkshire
- Andrew Redmayne
- Sarah Walsh
- Tommy Oar
- Kevin-Prince Boateng
- Adriano Del Monte
- Kat Sasso
- Adamo De Nigris
- Sam Jurman
- Darren Mara
- Breanna Holden
- Adrian Arculi