The deal with the Nine Network will feature the next eight World Cup qualifiers broadcast on free-to-air, starting with the clashes with Saudi Arabia on Friday morning (AEDT) and Japan on Tuesday - through to September next year.

Socceroos fans without pay TV were unable to watch the past two qualifying matches against United Arab Emirates and Iraq despite SBS and other free-to-air networks showing interest in broadcasting the games.

It was the first time in more than four years Australia played without free-to-air coverage with the 2014 FIFA World Cup, including qualification, the 2015 AFC Asian Cup and 2018 World Cup qualifiers shown on SBS or ABC.

An FFA spokesman told The World Game that the broadcast rights for the September qualifiers were decided by the Asian Football Federation (AFC) and their marketing agency Lagardere.

FFA chief executive David Gallop said football fans were the biggest winners with the new broadcast deal.

"This is a great result for football, tremendous news for Socceroos fans around Australia. We welcome the undeniable sports broadcast expertise of Channel Nine on board for what will be two massive games for the Socceroos in the road to the 2018 FIFA World Cup."