SBS to air all World Cup group matches, Optus Sport now free to all

Optus Sport will be available for free until August 31.

SBS has announced it will simulcast all the 2018 FIFA World Cup games until the end of the group stage on Friday June 29.

Michael Ebeid, CEO and Managing Director, SBS, said, “The FIFA World Cup is the absolute pinnacle of football, a sport that Australians are deeply passionate about. SBS looks forward to continuing to simulcast the games, together with Optus over the next ten days.”

After recent problems with its World Cup streaming service, Optus gave SBS four additional games to show on FTA TV as it worked on repairing its service.

Following the hiccup, Optus CEO Allen Lew apologised to all of its customers impacted by the interruptions.

He said: “I apologise unreservedly to all Australians. We should have done better, we can do better and we will do better.”

Tech guru Trevor Long’s prediction made on Twitter earlier today, before the SBS announcement was made, has come true to some extent. Long tweeted, “I hope for the Optus engineers’ sake they’ve got it worked out, but the realist in me knows that 48 hours is a very short time – so as I’ve said all week, I think the World Cup will have to stay on SBS – we find out at 4.30pm.”

In a bid to get back on the Australian fans’ good books, Optus has opened its streaming service, Optus Sport, to everyone for free until August 31.

Live match broadcast schedule:

Wednesday June 20

Portugal v Morocco
LIVE from 9.30pm* on SBS (kick-off 10pm*)

Thursday June 21

Uruguay v Saudi Arabia
LIVE from 12.30am* on SBS (kick-off 1am*) – NEW

IR Iran v Spain
LIVE from 3.30am* on SBS (kick-off 4am*) – NEW

Denmark v Australia
LIVE from 9.30pm* on SBS (kick-off 10pm*)

Friday June 22

France v Peru
LIVE from 12.30am* on SBS (kick-off 1am*) – NEW

Argentina v Croatia
LIVE from 3.30am* on SBS (kick-off 4am*) – NEW

Brazil v Costa Rica
LIVE from 9.30pm* on SBS (kick-off 10pm*)

Saturday June 23

Nigeria v Iceland
LIVE from 12.30am* on SBS (kick-off 1am*) – NEW

Serbia v Switzerland
LIVE from 3.30am* on SBS (kick-off 4am*) – NEW

Belgium v Tunisia
LIVE from 9.30pm* on SBS (kick-off 10pm*)

Sunday June 24

Korea Republic v Mexico
LIVE from 12.30am* on SBS (kick-off 1am*) – NEW

Germany v Sweden
LIVE from 3.30am* on SBS (kick-off 4am*)

England v Panama
LIVE from 9.30pm* on SBS (kick-off 10pm*)

Monday June 25 – previously unconfirmed

Japan v Senegal
LIVE from 12.30am* on SBS (kick-off 1am*) – NEW

Poland v Colombia
LIVE from 3.30am* on SBS (kick-off 4am*) – NEW

Uruguay v Russia
LIVE from 11.30pm* (kick-off 12am Tuesday*) – Channel TBC

Saudi Arabia v Egypt
LIVE from 11.30pm* (kick-off 12am Tuesday*) – Channel TBC

Tuesday June 26

Spain v Morocco
LIVE from 3.30am* (kick-off 4am*) – Channel TBC – NEW

IR Iran v Portugal
LIVE from 3.30am* (kick-off 4am*) – Channel TBC – NEW

Australia v Peru
LIVE from 11pm* on SBS (kick-off 12am Wed*)

Denmark v France
LIVE from 11.30pm* (kick-off 12am Wed*) Channel TBC     NEW

Wednesday June 27 – previously unconfirmed

Nigeria v Argentina
LIVE from 3.30am* (kick-off 4am*) – Channel TBC – NEW

Iceland v Croatia
LIVE from 3.30am* (kick-off 4am*) – Channel TBC – NEW

Korea Republic v Germany
LIVE from 11.30pm* (kick-off 12am*) – Channel TBC – NEW

Mexico v Sweden
LIVE from 11.30pm* (kick-off 12am*) – Channel TBC – NEW

Thursday June 28 – previously unconfirmed

Serbia v Brazil
LIVE from 3.30am* (kick-off 4am*) – Channel TBC – NEW

Switzerland v Costa Rica
LIVE from 3.30am* (kick-off 4am*) – Channel TBC – NEW

Japan v Poland
LIVE from 11.30pm* (kick-off 12am*) – Channel TBC – NEW

Senegal v Colombia
LIVE from 11.30pm* (kick-off 12am*) – Channel TBC – NEW

Friday June 29 – previously unconfirmed

Panama v Tunisia
LIVE from 3.30am* (kick-off 4am*) – Channel TBC – NEW

England v Belgium
LIVE from 3.30am* (kick-off 4am*) – Channel TBC – NEW

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