Stan Sport Adds 2026 World Cup Qualifiers to Line-Up

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Image Credit: Vitalii Vitleo / Shutterstock.com

Stan Sport, the streaming arm of Nine Network, has further strengthened its football portfolio after securing the rights to the European qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The platform aired its first batch of fixtures on 5 September, including Netherlands v Poland, Slovakia v Germany, Bulgaria v Spain and Liechtenstein v Belgium.

In total, Stan Sport will show all 144 remaining pool matches, along with every play-off tie scheduled for March 2026.

The qualifiers feature 48 teams divided into 12 groups of four, with nations facing each other home and away. Group winners progress directly to the World Cup, while the remaining sides battle it out in the play-offs.

Australia’s public broadcaster SBS continues to hold exclusive rights to the World Cup finals, which will be staged across the US, Canada and Mexico, broadcasting all 104 matches free-to-air on its channels and digital platforms.

Stan’s move to pick up the qualifiers follows an aggressive rights spree that has reshaped the Australian football broadcast landscape.

In recent months, the service has secured the Premier League and FA Cup via a sublicensing deal with Optus Sport, who are stepping back from football coverage, as well as rights to the J.League, K League and National Women’s Soccer League.

This builds on Stan’s already strong slate, which includes exclusive coverage of UEFA’s Champions League, Europa League, Conference League and Super Cup, plus Germany’s DFB-Pokal. Just last week, the platform announced a multi-year deal to broadcast the Women’s Super League (WSL), further expanding its reach into elite women’s football.

Parent company Nine Entertainment recently reported revenues of $2.7 billion and a net profit after tax of $133 million for the 2025 financial year, underlining its financial strength to continue investing heavily in sport.

For Australian football fans, this deal is another major win, bringing one of the most competitive qualifying tournaments in the world to local screens. With Stan Sport now holding rights across Europe, Asia and the women’s game, it cements itself as the all-in-one destination for football in Australia.

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FQ Reinstates WinterFest 2026 at the Sunshine Coast

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Image Credit: Football Queensland

Football Queensland (FQ) has confirmed WinterFest, the state’s premier junior football carnival, will return to the Sunshine Coast from 1 to 5 July 2026; this time at a new home in the University of the Sunshine Coast (USC).

Delivered in partnership with Sunshine Coast Council and Visit Sunshine Coast, the five-day carnival will span USC and Sunshine Coast Wanderers FC, hosting Under 9 to Under 11 Boys and Under 11 Girls teams from every corner of the state.

WinterFest is not simply a competition. Within FQ’s development framework, the carnival serves a dual function, to expose elite junior players to FQ Technical staff, whilst providing emerging referees with live matchday experience under the guidance of senior officials.

“The carnival plays an important role in nurturing not only our most promising young players, who can showcase their abilities in front of FQ Technical staff who continue to monitor their ongoing development, but also our cohort of emerging referees from across Queensland,” said Ryan Fett, FQ General Manager- Football, Infrastructure & Club Development.

The shift to USC is deliberate. FQ has signalled an intention to elevate the event experience year-on-year, and a university campus venue, with its infrastructure and capacity, reflects that ambition more than a traditional football ground would.

Beyond the Pitch

The tournament’s footprint, however, extends well beyond the pitch. With thousands of visiting families descending on the region across five days, WinterFest functions as a significant economic activation for the Sunshine Coast during what is otherwise a quieter winter period.

“WinterFest brings enormous energy to the region, the USC and Buderim fields will be buzzing and the talent on show outstanding,” said Sunshine Coast Resilient Economy Portfolio Councillor Terry Landsberg.

The language- “Resilient Economy”- is worth noting. Landsberg’s portfolio title alone signals how local government now frames junior sport: not as community goodwill, but as economic infrastructure.

His reference to Brisbane 2032 made that explicit. “As we move closer to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, these experiences are invaluable for aspiring athletes and equally important for boosting local tourism and supporting our businesses during the winter period.”

Whether a regional Under 11 carnival genuinely feeds an Olympic pipeline is debatable. What isn’t is that the political incentive to frame it that way, with 2032 drawing every level of government into the orbit of sport, is very real.

Football NSW partners with Deploy for Association Championships

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Image credit: Deploy Football

In an announcement released on Thursday this week, Football NSW revealed Deploy as the Naming Rights Partner of the Football NSW Association Championships.

New competition, new talents

The Association Championships, set to take place in July 2026 at Glen Willow Regional Sports Complex in Mudgee, will replace the former Association Youth League.

Although the tournament has changed name, its purpose remains consistent: giving youth players the platform to showcase their talent on the football pitch.

In a display of unity and collective ambition, 18 Associations across New South Wales will enter representative teams, each one featuring gifted grassroots players looking to prove themselves against their peers.

“The Deploy FNSW Association Championships will provide a fantastic platform for our Associations to come together and celebrate the best of elite community football,” said Football NSW CEO, John Tsatsimas via official press release.

“This tournament is all about giving young players, coaches, and referees from every corner of the state a chance to shine and develop in a competitive, supportive environment.”

The partnership between Deploy and Football NSW, therefore, is not merely about a name alteration. It is a collaboration which presents future grassroots talents with a platform and opportunity to compete.

 

Built on shared values

No partnership can succeed without both parties sharing a common goal or set of values. In this case, the alliance between Football NSW and Deploy is built on a commitment to supporting grassroots football and supplying players with quality resources and experiences to showcase their talent.

“Deploy is proud to partner with Football NSW as the Naming Rights Partner of the Association Championships. Community sport plays a vital role in bringing people together and building future leaders, both on and off the field,” explained Chief Commercial Officer at Deploy, Kurt Johnson.

“As long-time partners with Football NSW, this aligns perfectly with our strategy of creating balls designed for each age and skill level of the game, ranging from junior training balls to professional match balls perfect for the competitive environment like the Association Championships.”

Furthermore, with hundreds of participants including players, referees, coaches and supporters due to attend the tournament, the partnership’s impact will extend right across the state of New South Wales.

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