The Socceroos will host next year’s vital World Cup qualifier with Saudi Arabia at Adelaide Oval.
Football Federation Australia chief executive David Gallop is set to announce on Tuesday that the June 8 fixture will be played in the South Australian capital.
With Saudi Arabia leading qualifying Group B and the Socceroos a point adrift in third, the clash shapes as a potential make-or-break on the road to Russia 2018.
Australia have five games left in the final phase of qualifying to make the cut for a fourth consecutive World Cup.
A berth is still in the hands of Ange Postecoglou’s national team but any room for error is gone after this month’s 2-2 draw with Group B stragglers Thailand saw them slip out of the automatic qualifying spots into third place.
The Socceroos will spend the remaining fixtures attempting to overtake Saudi Arabia and second-placed Japan.
Their next, on March 23 against Iraq, will be played in neutral territory before they host UAE at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium on March 28.
The match against Saudi will be their last competitive hit-out before kicking off a tough Confederations Cup campaign against world champions Germany later in June.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
That would be the day after the WCQ, and hence not an issue for the Socceroos.
The real SC
Roar Rookie
You must be joking. Adelaide Crows play Saint Kilda on 9/6/2017 at Adelaide Oval. That game Should be played in Darwin. TIO Stadium has never had any international soccer matches played in Darwin
Griffo
Roar Guru
mattq - dump some ice on the pitch pre-game? Or maybe just the Saudi technical area...
pauly
Guest
Make South Australian Senator Cory Bernardi toss the coin to make it even more bitter.
mattq
Guest
don't worry Mark, although not zero or minus 1, Adelaide can service up a pretty bitter winter.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
Enlightened self-interest is rather fashionable of late.
Mark
Guest
A bit of a disappointing outcome for the ACT but not unexpected. Canberra was supposedly in the box seat for this match when we were cruising towards qualification and it looked like this match would be one of the more ho hum fixtures in this qualification round. Now that we're stuttering and the Saudis are doing quite well, making it a very important match, I'm not surprised at all that it has gone to a bigger venue. Still, it's a pity that the FFA haven't chosen to give the Saudis some of their own medicine and make them play on a freezing winter's night.
lesterlike
Guest
Another AFL Oval, they should be banned from bidding. Should be Football stadiums only or no Socceroos for your City.
pauly
Guest
Queensland Govt you are a joke!