Free public transport to help cheer on Socceroos
Public transport will be free for everyone across the Opal network on Sunday morning to allow football fans to come together to cheer on the Socceroos for their round of 16 match in the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
The Socceroos will face Argentina at 6am AEDT on Sunday and to help fans barrack for our national team, a large screen will be set up at the official live site at Tumbalong Park in Darling Harbour in an alcohol-free, free public event. Gates open from 5am.
To help fans travel to the organised live site in the city as well as any other community sites across the Sydney metropolitan area, a fare free public transport period will commence at 4am and end at 12pm on Sunday 4 December.
There will be no need to tap on or tap off to use any train, bus, ferry, light rail or Sydney Metro service during this period. This includes NSW TrainLink intercity services on the Opal network.
Early morning trains, buses and light rail services run to Town Hall and Central, which are within short walking distance of Tumbalong Park at the southern end of Darling Harbour.
L2 Randwick and L3 Kingsford light rail services start running from 5am and the closest stop to Darling Harbour is Chinatown. L1 Dulwich Hill light rail services will also start operating from 5am with Exhibition the closest stop.
Anyone who accidentally taps on or taps off with an Opal card, credit or debit card, or linked device, such as a phone or smart watch, will be refunded within a few days.
If you use one of our Park&Ride commuter car parks, you’ll still be able to access free parking if you are travelling on the Opal network.
Fans are reminded to plan ahead as buses are replacing trains between Penrith, Richmond, and Granville due to planned trackwork on the T1 Western and T5 Cumberland lines.
We advise motorists to avoid unnecessary travel through the CBD with large crowds expected to attend the Socceroos live site. Traffic is also expected to be heavy in council areas around the local live sites, so allow extra travel time and watch out for pedestrians.
If you have to drive, the closest car parks to the live site in the city include the ICC Sydney car park (entry via Darling Drive) and the Harbourside car park (entry via Murray Street).
If you are travelling on public transport, we ask everyone to please respect our staff.
To plan your trip on public transport, visit transportnsw.info or use the Opal Travel app. For real-time updates on road and traffic conditions, visit livetraffic.com.