Group A ended on a knife-edge with Pakistan, Iraq and Australia all ending on 6 points, with co-hosts Hong Kong finishing on 0 points. With the AFC implementing a 'head-to-head' tiebreaker instead of overall goal difference, Pakistan topped the group, whereas Australia - despite their final day loss to Iraq - scraped through in second place, and will face Japan in the quarter-finals in Hanoi.

Japan v Australia
23 June @ 8:15pm AEST

Australia got past the Samurai Blue in the quarter finals with a 3-1 victory - now Saudi Arabia awaits in the semi final

24 June @ 11:15pm AEST

The AFC Asian Cup is just one step away for the Socceroos, who defeated Saudi Arabia 2-0 in the semi-final.

In Jakarta, Korea Republic awaits as the final obstacle between Australia and a World Cup/Asian Cup double

25 June @ 10:30pm AEST

Australia emerged victorious in the 2007 AFC Asian Cup Final against Argentina, and once again return to Australia to celebrate a third straight international championship, having won the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup, and 2006 FIFA World Cup.

However, this time it's not just a tournament victory to celebrate, as a raft of players announced their international retirement after the Asian Cup, with a final celebration of their international careers.

Australia's captain Mark Viduka will play his 114th and final match for the Socceroos, with his career spanning 114 goals. Will he add anymore in his final match?

Also announcing their international retirements, and expected to be handed a start in their final match are Zeljko Kalac, John Aloisi, Stan Lazaridis, and Josip Skoko. These retirements come after those that occurred prior to the Asian Cup by Tony Popovic, and Tony Vidmar.

Interim manager Graham Arnold has also announced that he will be stepping down to focus on managing the Olyroos towards qualification for the Beijing Olympics in 2008. Rob Baan - FFA's technical director - will lead the team for the upcoming Nigeria friendly, before a permanent appointment is made ahead of the first match in qualifying in March 2008.

With Australia winning both the FIFA World Cup in 2006, and the AFC Asian Cup in 2007, both Australia and losing finalists Korea Republic have qualified for the 2009 FIFA Confederations World Cup held in South Africa.

26 June @ 8pm AEST

After a spate of retirements following Australia's friendly at home against Argentina, including the World Cup winning captain Mark Viduka (114 matches, and 115 goals), alongside Josip Skoko, Stan Lazaridis and John Aloisi, a refreshed Socceroos line up faces Nigeria in London, ahead of their very first FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign in the Asian Football Confederation.

28 June @ 1am AEST

A refreshed Socceroos faces Qatar at home in their very first FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign in the Asian Football Confederation.

Australia has been drawn with Qatar, Iraq and China, with the top 2 from the group advancing to the Fourth Round - which will see the top 2 of two groups of 5 advance directly to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

After emerging victorious in Indonesia at the 2007 AFC Asian Cup, interim manager Graham Arnold also stepped down, to focus on managing the Olyroos towards qualification for the Beijing Olympics in 2008. FFA have signed Pim Verbeek to manage the side until the end of the 2011 Asian Cup. Verbeek was previously assistant at Korea Republic under former Socceroos manager Guus Hiddink in 2002, and Dick Advocaat in 2006, before taking the lead role for the 2007 Asian Cup, reaching the final before losing to Australia.

Australia v Qatar - 29 June @ 8pm


Singapore v Australia - Friendly match - 30 June @ 9pm


China v Australia - 1 July @ 4pm


Australia v Ghana - Friendly match - 2 July @ 8pm


Australia v Iraq - 3 July @ 8pm

Iraq v Australia - 5 July @ 12am


Qatar v Australia - 5 July @ 7pm


Australia v China - 6 July @ 8pm

The Socceroos have successfully navigated the first stage of FIFA World Cup qualifiers in Asia, and now prepare for the second stage with two friendlies in Europe: in London against 2010 World Cup hosts South Africa, and in Eindhoven against Netherlands.

Australia has been drawn in a group with Japan, Thailand, Qatar and Uzbekistan, with the second group featuring Iran, Korea DPR, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Kuwait. The top two of each group qualify directly for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, with the two third placed teams entering a playoff, with the winner progressing to a further playoff against New Zealand who have won the Oceanian qualifiers.

As winners of the AFC Asian Cup, Australia have also qualified for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup, with the draw to be held later this year. However, with the condensed international calendar, AFC and FIFA have arranged the scheduling for Round 4 to allow Australia the space to take part.

The Socceroos have qualified for their fourth straight FIFA World Cup, as the defending champions will head to South Africa in 2010.In 2009 though - as winners of the 2006 FIFA World Cup - Australia will compete in the FIFA Confederations Cup.

The Socceroos have been drawn in Group B against CONCACAF champions USA, CAF champions Egypt, and CONMEBOL champions and 2006 FIFA World Cup runners up Brazil. Group A features hosts South Africa, AFC Asian Cup runners-up Korea Republic, and UEFA champions Spain.

BA81 said:

I’ve always been of the opinion that if we ever win a WC, we should use an enlarged Federation Star(as appears on our flag and coat-of-arms) instead of the standard 5-pointed️ star:

View attachment 8272

Click to expand...

Might have to do an update if/when it gets to 2 stars

On a side-note: the 2010 World Cup campaign will take a pause once it reaches the end of 2009 for a couple Prequel series. Here's the first sneak peek:

BA81 said:

Which campaign’s that meant to be? I’m guessing Argentina ’78

Click to expand...

1974 - unfortunately no other Asian/Oceanian teams, so will be taking place after qualification is secured - includes a few pre-tournament friendlies before the World Cup itself.

The Socceroos were bundled out of the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup, after an opening 6-0 defeat of USA led into defeats by Egypt and Brazil, sending Australia home from a tournament without a trophy for the first time since the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup

While awaiting the final qualifying results for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Australia have arranged friendlies across the globe in the Republic of Ireland, Korea Republic, at home against the Netherlands, and then to Germany to close out 2009.As defending World Champions, it is expected that Australia will be seeded in Pot 1 for the 2010 FIFA World Cup draw among the top 7 ranked nations, and alongside hosts South Africa.









As defending World Champions, Australia will be seeded in Pot 1 for the 2010 FIFA World Cup draw among the top 7 ranked nations, and alongside hosts South Africa.
POT 1 (Host nation + top 7 FIFA ranked nations)
* South Africa
* Australia
* Brazil
* Spain
* Netherlands
* Italy
* Germany
* Argentina

POT 2 (CAF + CONMEBOL)
* Algeria
* Cameroon
* Ghana
* Ivory Coast
* Nigeria
* Chile
* Paraguay
* Uruguay

POT 3 (UEFA Top 8 ranked unseeded nations)
* England
* Denmark
* France
* Greece
* Portugal
* Serbia
* Slovakia
* Switzerland

POT 4 (AFC + CONCACAF + OFC)
* Japan
* Korea DPR
* IR Iran
* Honduras
* Mexico
* United States
* New Zealand

SPECIAL POT (Lowest ranked UEFA nation)
* Slovenia

Draw procedure:
* Pots drawn 1 through 4, into Groups A to H alphabetically. South Africa automatically allocated to group A, with all Pot 1 nations automatically allocated to Position 1.
* To ensure that no group contains 3 UEFA nations, the lowest ranked nation from UEFA (Slovenia) has been placed in a special pot. Following the draw of Pot 1, Slovenia will be drawn randomly into a group featuring a nation from Pot 1 not from UEFA (Brazil, Argentina, Australia, or South Africa).
* Pots 2, 3 and 4 have been split geographically, and the draw will proceed to these pots, drawn in order, and allocated to Groups A to H in order.* No group shall feature more than one nation per confederation, with the exception of UEFA, as previously described.
* Each nation drawn from Pots 2, 3 and 4 will also be randomly allocated position 2, 3 or 4 into their group.
* Nations drawn to play in the Group Stage of the FIFA World Cup may not participate in Friendly Matches against eachother prior to the beginning of the tournament.