Socceroos World Cup Qualifier: How To Watch Live, Online And Free

To qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Australia have to first go through the Central American nation of Honduras. If Australia wins the two-leg series, they’re off to Russia next year to compete with the world’s best in the world’s most beautiful game. With the first leg in Honduras last Saturday morning ending in a nil-all draw, the Socceroos are now gearing up for the must-win second leg in Sydney.

Here’s how you can watch all the action from the second leg of the World Cup Qualifiers live, online and free.

Why Are The Socceroos Playing Honduras?

Well, we kind of messed up taking the easy road to World Cup qualification. Unfortunately, we finished third in our group which meant we don’t automatically qualify for the 2018 World Cup and thus have to face off against the nation that finished fifth in the CONCACAF group – Honduras.

This is an intercontinental play-off match that runs over two legs. The first was played away, in Honduras, and the second game is home, in Sydney. The team with the highest aggregate score over the two legs will secure a spot in the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

As it stands, that aggregate score is 0-0, with the first game ending in a draw. Away goals count for more, so if the Socceroos draw 1-1, 2-2 and so on, they will be eliminated from the World Cup. If it is 0-0 at the end of full time in the second leg, then the game will go to extra time. If it is still tied up after extra time, a penalty shootout will occur.

When Do The Socceroos Play Honduras?

The Socceroos will take on Honduras in a two-leg home-and-away series that begins on November 11. The first match was played in Honduras’ Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano, which the locals dubbed ‘The Tomb’ on November 11.

The return leg will be played in Sydney on Wednesday November 15 at 8pm AEDT. If you’re in other capital cities, that time will be:

  • Perth, WA: 5pm
  • Darwin, NT: 6:30pm
  • Brisbane, QLD: 7pm
  • Adelaide, SA: 7:30pm
  • Sydney, NSW: 8pm
  • Canberra, ACT: 8pm
  • Melbourne, VIC: 8pm
  • Hobart, TAS: 8pm

How To Watch The Socceroos Vs Honduras In Australia

If you want to catch the game and you have access to a TV, the easiest option is to turn to Channel Nine or Nine HD which has the broadcast rights to the second leg of the World Cup Qualifiers and will be broadcasting on free-to-air. If you like your sports in high-def and via subscription service then you will have to look at Foxtel. The game will be broadcast on Fox Sports (Channel 501).

Coverage of the games usually starts a little earlier than the above times on broadcast television, with pre-game analysis and discussion taking place on Channel Nine from 7:30pm AEDT.

Conveniently, if you don’t have access to a TV or want to stream to your mobile or desktop, Channel 9’s online streaming service, 9Now, will allow you to watch the game for free. You can access the desktop stream for 9 here or you can download the app for iOS or Android to watch on your mobile. You will need to sign up for a free account if you wish to livestream, however.

If you’re an Australian abroad, you may not be able to access 9Now without the use of a VPN. The best we’ve encountered are listed here. As long as you set your region to somewhere within Australia, 9Now should let you access the content. The small price you pay to sign up to these services is worth it if you’re overseas and want to access Australian content.

Alternatively, if you haven’t signed up for Foxtel Now before, you can activate a two week trial for free. To get access to the Socceroos match, you will need to buy one of the base packages for $15 and then add the $29 sports package on top. Just remember to cancel your subscription before the two weeks is up or you’ll be slugged $44. Doesn’t seem worth it when you can use the 9Now app instead.

As always, if you don’t have access to a TV or Foxtel Now subscription, then you’re looking at two options. One would be heading down to the local pub (for the first leg – a morning game – it’d best to check with your local whether they’ll even be open…). The second would be to check Reddit’s r/soccerstreams which will often contain live links to the games as they air.

Can I Get Tickets To The Socceroos Vs Honduras?

Tickets for the return leg, in Sydney, are available through the Ticketek website.


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