Victorian police have said that flares and fireworks were "disappointingly" set off by football fans gathered at Federation Square for the Australia-United States match on Saturday morning.
Arrests were made at fan sites in the Victorian capital as well as Sydney's Tumbalong Park, where thousands of Socceroos fans packed in to watch the event in the early hours.
One man was treated at the scene in Sydney for facial burns after being hit in the face by a flare.
In Melbourne, mounted police were forced to intervene after fans attempted to breach barriers at Fed Square when the popular site reached capacity just after 4am on Saturday.
About 7,500 fans packed the site in cold and rainy conditions, with 14 flares and one firework set off before the match, leading to two arrests.
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The pair will be charged on summons, with police reviewing CCTV to identify those responsible for setting off the remaining flares.
"Enforcing prohibited items such as flares from entering the live site remains the responsibility of the venue," a Victoria Police spokeswoman said.
A Fed Square spokesperson told SBS News that "while it was disappointing that this morning's match was marred by the actions of a small number of individuals, the overwhelming majority of attendees came together in great spirit to support the Socceroos".
Last month, Fed Square cancelled planned screenings of World Cup matches due to dangerous fan behaviour and the use of flares. That decision was overturned by Victorian Premier Jacinta Allen, who committed to increasing police presence at the site and enforcing a zero-tolerance approach to bad behaviour.
Fed Square said they would review Friday's operations with Victoria Police and apply any learnings to future screenings.
"We will continue working closely with police and other stakeholders to ensure the safest possible experience for everyone attending Federation Square," they said.
While fans celebrated the atmosphere, there was disappointment as the Socceroos' campaign suffered a setback with a 2-0 loss to the American team.
Former Socceroo Craig Foster, who was the MC at the live site, urged fans to stop letting off flares.
There were no reported injuries, however a police officer sustained a foot injury after being crushed against a barrier
A 16-year-old boy was also arrested in relation to an alleged sexual assault of a woman about 4.55am.
One shirtless man was seen being escorted away following a confrontation.
Almost 9000 eager fans were redirected to AAMI Park, where the match was also livestreamed.
Football fever spreads
Sydney experienced similarly fiery scenes with two men, aged 20, arrested at Tumbarong Park in the city centre and later charged with possessing a bright light distress signal in a public place.
They were granted bail and are due to appear in court on Wednesday and police say investigations are still ongoing.
Conditions were more relaxed at Brisbane's South Bank, where thousands of fans watched the blockbuster clash, while excited crowds also gathered in Hobart, Canberra, and Perth.
— With additional reporting from the Australian Associated Press news agency.
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