It’s about to be much easier to tune in to women’s football games, after Football Australia signed a landmark deal with Paramount Australia, parent company to Network Ten and Paramount+.
Ahead of some major international tournaments for the Matildas, Paramount Australia agreed to a multi-year, multi-platform broadcast deal for Matildas’ and Socceroos’ matches through to 2028.
This means Matildas’ matches at the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup – to be hosted in Australia – as well as the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027, will reach about 96 per cent of Australian homes, Football Australia said.
Socceroos’ matches will also be played on the channels ahead of the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup in North America and the 2027 AFC Men’s Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia.
Beverly McGarvey, the President of Network 10 and Paramount Australia’s Head of Streaming and Regional Lead, said it’s not just a win for the players, but also for Aussie football fans.
“Never before have fans had such incredible access to the sport they love, ranging from the A-Leagues all the way through to premium international games broadcast on the one free-to-air network and on one of Australia’s fastest growing streaming platforms,” McGarvey said.
“Perhaps one of the most appealing aspects of the Paramount Australia agreement, which we see as an exciting extension of our coverage of the A-Leagues, is the opportunity for women’s football.
“All CommBank Matildas’ games at the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 will be telecast by Network 10 on free-to-air television as will all Matildas’ games in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026.”
CEO of Football Australia James Johnson said this is a “landmark” and “pivotal” moment for football in Australia.
“It brings unprecedented exposure to our national teams and provides fans with unparalleled access to the CommBank Matildas and Subway Socceroos,” Johnson said.
“We look forward to our continued partnership with Paramount Australia, a relationship that has been pivotal in delivering high-quality football matches to our fans. This ongoing collaboration will be crucial as we navigate future opportunities and challenges in the dynamic media landscape.”
The deal comes off the back of one of the biggest success stories from women’s sport in Australia: the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
In last year’s tournament, hosted by Australia, the Matildas made it to the semi-final against England in a historic performance for Australian football – both men’s and women’s.
Despite the heartbreaking loss, the semi-final match was the most-watched television program since the current rating system was established in 2001.
The Australia v England game almost tripled previous sporting benchmarks to become not just the most watched sporting program, but the most watched program in every other category.
Reports from OzTam and Channel Seven show the game reached 11.15 million Australians nation-wide, with an average audience of 7.13 million on the broadcasting channel.
This weekend, four elite women’s football teams – Manchester City, West Ham, Paris Saint-Germain and Leicester City – are heading to WA to compete in the inaugural Perth International Women’s Football Cup.
From Wednesday to Sunday, fans have the chance to watch some of the world’s best footballers hit it out – including Australia’s Mary Fowler, Alanna Kennedy, Katrina Gorry and Courtney Nevin.