Australia’s first batch of qualifying fixtures for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, due to start in September, have been confirmed on Wednesday evening.
The Socceroos have been drawn in Group B, with the four opposition teams also drawn in the group being Jordan, Chinese Taipei, Kuwait and Nepal.
The Australian side most recently fell 1-0 to Jordan at the 2019 Asian Cup, and they stand as the most likely side to keep Australia from finishing top of the group.
Graham Arnold’s men will first play away to Kuwait, before they take on Nepal at home. They won’t play away to Jordan until November.
One of the Socceroos most recent matches was an away trip to Kuwait, where they won 4-0 in a pre-Asian Cup friendly.
While the first round of qualification has already been completed as a straight knockout between the lowest-ranked teams in the Asian Football Confederation, the second round will be the first group stage action, with all of the top teams now included in the competition.
In the second round of qualification, 40 teams are separated into eight groups of five, with home and away fixtures to be played from September 5 2019, through to the final matchday in June 2019.
Given the final matchday is June 9, and Australia’s participation at the 2020 Copa America starts on June 12, it’s likely the final fixture will have to be moved.
The top two sides from the group go straight into the third round of qualification for the World Cup, while only the first-placed team receives automatic qualification to the Asian Cup.
The Socceroos were in Pot 1 for the second round, meaning they avoided the other seven top-seeded teams in Asia, who are Iran, Japan, South Korea, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and China PR.
These matches will be played in official FIFA international match windows, with a total of eight games per nation to be played.
Venues and start times for all matches will be confirmed at a later date.
| Date | Home | Away |
|---|---|---|
| Tue Sep 10 | Kuwait | Australia |
| Thu Oct 10 | Australia | Nepal |
| Tue Oct 15 | Chinese Taipei | Australia |
| Thu Nov 14 | Jordan | Australia |
| Thu Mar 26 | Australia | Kuwait |
| Tue Mar 31 | Nepal | Australia |
| Thu Jun 4 | Australia | Chinese Taipei |
| Tue Jun 9 | Australia | Jordan |
Dr Dharam Bhugun
Guest
What a shame the matches won't be shown on free to air television. Despite being the most beautiful game in the world, where are the television, FFA and government's contribution to facilitate the games to soccer diehards. Cheers.
Uj
Guest
Yes Nepal should have a good support in Sydney and/or Melbourne. Hopefully the match is played in either of these cities. Not going to attract too many eyeballs on TV bit should have a good number of to fill Parra stadium.
Brian
Guest
Nepal would have some support in Melbourne or Sydney.
Scott Pryde
Expert
I don't think it'll be a massive issue Middy, as long as they get the stadiums right for each game. Crowd figures for the last three first-round qualification matches since we moved to Asia have been healthy. Granted, opponents were stronger in 2010/14 than they were in 18 due to the structure of qualification in Asia, but still, I think as long as they don't try and put matches at Homebush, things will be pretty good. 2018 Australia vs Bangladesh - 19,485 (Perth) Australia vs Kyrgyzstan - 19,412 (Canberra) Australia vs Tajikistan - 35,439 (Adelaide Oval) Australia vs Jordan - 24,975 (SFS) 2014 Australia vs Thailand - 24,540 (Suncorp) Australia vs Oman - 24,732 (Oman) Australia vs Saudi Arabia - 24,240 (AAMI Park) 2010 Australia vs Qatar - 50,969 (Marvel) Australia vs Iraq - 48,678 (Suncorp) Australia vs China - 70,054 (ANZ)
Midfielder
Roar Guru
Gonna be difficult to get a reasonable crowd against some of those teams in big stadiums ... maybe some games to Tassie & NT .... Nepal & Chinese Taipei in smaller stadiums where they don't normally get to see the national team...
Brian
Guest
Its a good fixture. Need to take the best XI to Kuwait and Jordan in October and November, secure qualification and then have 6 monnths to develop and plan for the COPA and Stage 3. And if we lose in Jordan and need a result in the return match then forget Brisbane or Perth, game needs to be in Melbourne or Canberra so they enjoy the June chill.
Mark
Guest
It will be the same formula as it has been for the last 10 years. The state/territory governments that pay for games will get the games. ACT has already locked in a game, just a matter of which one it will be. I’d predict the home game vs Nepal will be at either Canberra or Parramatta
Franko
Guest
Given the turnout for Man Utd this last week or so, maybe a game in Perth?
Mister Football
Roar Guru
The last time we played Taiwan in any type of qualifier, was in an Olympics qualifier back in 1988. The socceroos won 3-0. Arnie scored twice, Farina was the other goal scorer. In 1985 we played Taiwan twice in the space of four days as part of the 1986 WC qualifiers, winning by a combined score of 15-0. Mitchell got a hatrick in the first game, and Kossie and Odzakov got a hatrick in the 2nd.
Campbell Ross
Roar Rookie
Probably neither Tim. We have to beat them in any case to ensure we finish top. It could be a cracker of a game if AUS and JOR are tied on points going into the final fixture though!
That A-League Fan
Roar Guru
YES!!! Everyone will think highly of Arnie, he'll talk about expecting to win, and we can get DESTROYED by Jordan again!!! We won't go to QATAR 2022!!!!! :D
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
Not sure if it's a good or bad thing having Jordan in our last game each round.