Socceroos Urge Schools and Employers to Screen Crucial World Cup Match Against Paraguay

In calling for schools to show Australia’s crucial World Cup game against Paraguay on Friday, Socceroos defender Jason Geria’s message was simple: “Let them watch it.” Only needing a draw to progress, Australia are in a good position to make it out of the group stage for the second World Cup in a row. Even if the Socceroos lose, they can still finish above Paraguay in Group D and would have a chance to make the last 32 as one of the top eight third-placed teams. The teams have met five times – Australia winning two and drawing three – with the most recent a 1-0 friendly win in 2010. But result aside, Geria was adamant that school students should be able to turn the game on at 12pm this Friday. “Let them watch it,” he said. “If they could wheel some TVs into classrooms … I think they’ve all got iPads anyway, so just chuck it on the iPad.” “We love the support that we’ve seen so far at the fan sites around Australia and the clips of people in their living rooms or with their friends and family, wherever, at the pubs. It’s been amazing. “12pm on a Friday, it doesn’t get much better than that leading into the weekend. So if they could let their employees or let their students watch, I think that would be amazing.” The final group game in the 2022 World Cup delivered a memorable moment when Mat Leckie scored the winner against Denmark, sending the Socceroos through to the last 16 where they lost to eventual champions Argentina. Not wanting anyone to miss out on such a moment in 2026, SBS pundit and former Matildas goalkeeper Lydia Williams also called for students and teachers to have the chance to watch the game live. “It’s a rare opportunity to get all teachers and students together to witness such an amazing moment in World Cup history,” Williams said in an SBS post on Instagram. “Let’s get behind our Socceroos boys as they take on Paraguay in what is a crucial match, especially in order to move into the next stage.” Victorian public schools can screen the match if they want to, according to the department of education. Interest in the Socceroos’ crunch match is not limited to schools, though, as workplaces around the country brace for a lunchtime staff exodus ahead of Friday’s noon kick-off. A survey commissioned by SBS found that three in four Australians planned to watch the World Cup – with 71% saying they should be able to watch at work – suggesting employers also face the dilemma of whether to down tools or continue with business as usual. If your boss is a football fan, there is a good chance you will be enjoying the afternoon off. For others it might be convincing your manager to let you work from home, or taking leave. While Geria and Williams focused on schools, former Socceroos captain Paul Wade believes employers should allow their staff to watch the game at work. “If I was a small business owner, which I am, I don’t want my staff nicking off to watch a game of football,” he said on Sunrise. “You should see the technology that they have now. No way in the world you should have a day off.”