Socceroos' World Cup draw announced

Kasey . I was throwing figures up in the air , i was going off the last freindly against Serbia it was just a loose stab . I think one of the main points was that it would be great to hear prior to a game that there are only 2,000 seats left .

Fuss you are correct, my data needs an update..that is the reason I have (2005-1010) after the WC and AC qualifying numbers. the data is correct for that period. I'll update the friendly data to include our post 2010 schedule and early next year the 3x WCQs for phase 3 of the 2014 qualifiers. We don't have to play qualifiers for the 2015 AC as we are the hosts:) The point stands though, that the Socceroos are a major drawcard for the game and no matter how many people erroneously think the sky is falling in on football in Australia, the data just doesn't bacl that view at all. The FFA need to be careful about how they wield this tool to further the game. The National team's of Australia (all 9 of the footballing versions) belong to all Australians whether they hate sokkah or not. The link in an other football thread that Perth is in the running not only for a WCQ but an 2012 Olympic Qualifier could be signs that he FFA has finally realised this.

Nice work, Kasey. A cursory glance indicates: a) WCQs: very well attended and, at least the 4th Round home matches if we qualify (let's not tempt fate), may need to remain in Australia's 3 biggest cities b) Asian Cup qualifiers: need to move to venues suited to 30k crowd capacities c) Friendlies: I think you may have to re-visit your data We've had many more than 4 friendlies in Australia - off the top of my head: Melbourne: Greece, Argentina, NZ, Serbia Sydney: Netherlands, Uruguay, Paraguay Brisbane: Paraguay Adelaide: NZ

Well bugger me, that's amazing to even hear Perth is being considred...could FFA be listening to the fans?? I'd definitely fly to Perth for Aus v anyone in a WCQ at nib stadium.Subiaco->I'd likely still fly, but only cos I'm a die hard for the National team(the atmosphere would be sh*te though:( ) ...nib's 20k capacity would almost guarantee a sell out and thus ensure a rollicking atmosphere:)

Bondy, I know you're just throwing numbers out there, but the Socceroos rarely play meaningful games(WCQs/ACQs) infront of 20,000 empty seats. The Uruguay game in 2005 is regarded by many as the 'turning point' for football in this country...so time for some facts I think. Australia World Cup Qualifiers(2005-2010) 8 matches(Sydney-4,Melbourne-2,Brisbane-2) Average attendance- 57,195 Asian Cup Qualifiers(2005-2010) 6 matches(Sydney-2,Melbourne-1,Brisbane-2,Canberra-1) Average attendance- 29,648 Socceroo Internationals (Friendlies) 4 matches(Sydney-2,Melbourne-2) Average attendance- 66,902 Socceroos overall Home attendance since 2005 18 matches Average attendance- 50,170 Even before 2005, big and meaningful games never had a problem getting good crowds, the problem ws the lack of meaningful games IMO. Since solved by the move into Asia--A gift we'll be saying thanks to Frank Lowy for, long after he leaves the game:)

Looks like the FFA is (finally) starting to listen to fans and learn from mistakes ... "Perth is in the running to host a Socceroos World Cup qualifier against Thailand, Saudi Arabia or Oman as Football Federation Australia moves to confirm the venues for the first phase of matches on the road to Brazil 2014." Source: http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/sport/a/-/sport/9948201/perth-in-running-for-world-cup-qualifier/

Asanchez. I agree with not playing on cricket grounds, we should be playing in rectangular stadiums where we no roughly how many are going to turn up 20 - 30,000. We are playing international games of football at etihad or the S.F.S.with up to 20,000 empty seats , lets play these games in stadia that are compliant with the sport and that seat roughly 30,000 that way we at least no there could be possibly 2-3,000 empty seats and not 10-15,000 .

asanchez, I agree with you that we should forget oval stadia, but I wonder why the MCG should get an exception...it is a garbage place to watch a game of football. I don't care for the way Victorioan Lyonize the place like its some holy freakin temple. Its a concrete bohemoth that can hold almost 100,000 fans...so what?...harking back to the 'Iran' game, nothing good has ever come from playing football at the MCG(its the place wherea money grubing SoccerAustralia de-based itself and embarrassed our country by having the national team lay a club side for crying out loud(ManYoo in 1999 for the new-dawners!) . .. so what when a good 1/3 of them would have poor sightlines for the Socceroos and probably another 1/3 would be so far from the action they might as well have stayed at home. Ovals never again for football. Its time we stood up to the FFA..If you want to play in Tardistan, play it at AAMI or if the numbers don't work, as a last resort...Docklands...BUT you MUST bring the seats into 'rectangle mode' !

Lets forget oval stadiums, i think they should be out of the equation, maybe with the exception of the MCG for a massive game, to maximise revenue for the FFA, but I think the FFA needs to sell these games out, not have 1/3 to half full stadiums. I have a theory, so you guys let me know what you think. - Against Thailand you would expect to attract a crowd of probably around 20K, which would suit stadiums at Perth(NIB), Adelaide(Hindmarsh), Gold Coast, and maybe Canberra. - Against Oman, I think AAMI park(31k capacity) would be perfect, plus a massive middle eastern population in Melbourne. Last time against Oman in Melbourne at Etihad got around 25k I think. - Against Saudi Arabia, which will be our most high-profile opponent we probably should look at either the SFS or Suncorp for a bigger attendance. I don't think money shouldn't be the sole determining factor here for the FFA, as no matter the capacity, the cheapest tix for a WCQ are always $50-$60, so good coin will be made, no matter where the games are. But a good opportunity here for the FFA to take meaningful games to other places outside Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane. Taking the Socceroos to Perth, Newcastle or the Gold Coast would be massive news in those towns and also build the profile of our game. I'd rather see a full house of 27k at Robina against Thailand than 20k at the 40k capacity SFS.

Fuss Hindmarsh is amazing..are you coming over in October? One of the best nights of football in my life was when we crammed 16,599 into there and stuffed a Zico coached Bundyodkor of Uzbekistan 3-0in the ACL.....Adelaide Oval for football sucks...the problem is though, we football fans feel obligated to 'support' the game by going along. If we vote with our feet, then the the crowd is low/bad and its never because the "Oval doesn't suit Football" its always because "Soccer is dying and has no fans!" which is nothing like how the local rag reports the dreadful decline in crowds for both Crows and Power at AAMI Stadium of course:( 17,000 at Hindmarsh for a WCQ would be an amazing night outand would surely spur our team on to a good win, but it would need the SA govt to underwrite it so tickets didn't cost $100 each.

I've yet to go to Hindmarsh, but I reckon 17k AUFC fans crammed into Hindmarsh will be a pretty intimidating atmosphere - real football supporters. It's only when the "every 4 years football hangers-on" - sourced from outside the football community - get involved that you get the inane "oi oi oi" chant.

No, I meant they are intimidated by Australia in general. Our physical presence, our overseas stars and our reputation in Asia. At least for the moment it is this way. I think a large crowd then adds to the intimidation for a visiting team. Also helps with putting pressure on the referee to help us out with decisions.

I doubt any teams are intimidated by our grounds, our home ends are universally pissweak and can't sustain anything more than a few rounds of 'Aussie Aussie Aussie' . Unless there's some deep-held Thai aversion to Wallabies jerseys and prawn sandwiches we'll be can forget the 12th man.

I don't think it is an easy draw but an average one. It's certainly not as easy as the media made it out to be Saudi Arabia is still a powerhorse of Asia with history despite their recent poorer performance Oman is probably the toughest middle east nation Australia played against since we join Asia. They really pushed us to the limit even when we were playing with a full strength team. The three times we played each other were all tough affairs.

Fussball I think playing in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane has proven good for us in the past 6 years or so. Why change a winning formula? I don't mind playing in Adelaide or Perth once they get their rectangular ground sizes extended. Adelaide Oval and Subiaco are hopeless as grounds for Football. Also there is more money to be made which can't be overlooked. Lets face facts. I actually think a lot of Asian teams are actually intimidated by just simply coming to play here in Australia. This includes Japan and Korea. I think our Socceroos like playing in the bigger stadiums and we should use them. Of course MCG and ANZ in my opinion should only be use in an absolute 'do or die' blockbuster. I'm still ok with Etihad if they can bring the stands in (which they should comply with for any World Cup qualifier). But regional areas for mine should be handed friendly games only. I think the Serbia game could have been played for example at Hindmarsh or NIB Stadium. Would have been a fantastic atmosphere in either of these.

NY I'm not suggesting taking games away from Sydney & Melbourne to disrespect the opponent; rather, to give Australia the biggest advantage. I'd much rather have 17k football fans crammed into Hindmarsh to watch AUS v OMA and creating a pulsating and intimidating atmosphere, than 20k spread across the 55k capacity Docklands in Melbourne (this was the crowd for AUS v OMA in the Asian Cup Qualifier on 18 Nov 2009). And, I'd only have the National Team playing at Football venues from now on. The MCG is one of the worst venues to view football. If we make it to Round 4 of the 2014 AFC Qualifiers, we will have 4 home matches and, for these, I would like the FFA to pick the venue based on the likely drawing capacity of the fixture: a) Sydney Olympic Stadium: matches likely to attract > 60k (e.g. v Japan, Iran, Sth Korea) b) Lang Park: crowd 40-50k c) AAMI Park, Melbourne: crowd < 30k d) Newcastle International Sports Centre: crowd 30-40k Now if we have the 3 home games from Round 3 in Perth, Adelaide, Canberra/Gold Coast/Townsville ... then we've spread the National Team games around the whole of Australia.

It would be great if sydney west had a good upmarket rectangular stadium or in nner city like lidcombe or redfern or belmore oval. i would play thailand at the SFS or at the melbourne rectangular staidum. MCG and Eithad stadium are not good to watch soccer it as simple as that.

i could see any of those in aami park though, i'm sick of our national team playing at the AFL grounds here in melbourne rather than a football stadium and these opponents would be perfect for a 30000 stadium. but on topic i'd rather newcastle, perth or townsville got a game then adelaide, adelaide atmosphere was dead when we played new zealand at the oval.

Attn: Non-East Coast state/territory capitals: Build a decent rectangular stadium farken.

Sydney melbourne and Brisbane will get these home games. the FFA need as much money as they can.