AFC confirm Doha as location for Australia against Oman

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) have confirmed that the Socceroos will play their third AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar™ (Final Round) fixture against Oman in Doha, Qatar on Thursday, 7 October 2021.

The Socceroos will return to the Khalifa International Stadium – the same venue that Australia defeated China PR 3-0 at on matchday one – next week as the team’s journey towards Qatar 2022 continues.

Socceroos Head Coach Graham Arnold believes the outcome of playing in Qatar is a good one for the team, with the familiar surrounds of the Khalifa International Stadium a positive for the group given the Socceroos are unable to return to Australia for the early October fixture.

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“We’ve played many matches in the Middle East over the past few years and have built a strong record in the region,” Arnold said.

“We are again very thankful to the Qatar Government and Qatar Football Association for enabling us to play this match on neutral territory in Doha. This arrangement provides an interim solution for the Socceroos before we begin to play our qualifiers on home soil again, we anticipate in November.

Playing at the Khalifa International Stadium on a fantastic pitch and in an air-conditioned environment will again be great for our team, providing a perfect platform for performance as we look to continue our journey to next year’s FIFA World Cup with another win.”

Football Australia, together with the NSW Government, recently announced that the Commonwealth Bank Matildas will host Brazil in a two-match series in NSW on 23 October and 26 October at CommBank Stadium in Parramatta.

While the Socceroos’ AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar™ (Final Round) match against Oman will come too soon for permissions to be received to play that fixture on home soil, Football Australia is confident that the two-game Matildas friendly series being hosted on home-soil, will help to pave the way for the Socceroos to play Asian qualifiers in New South Wales from November onwards.

The Socceroos are scheduled to host Saudi Arabia in Australia on 11 November with advanced discussions with the NSW Government on-going so that this fixture can be played in Australia.

Football Australia will announce the Socceroos’ squad for Australia’s October AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar™ (Final Round) fixtures against Oman and Japan later this week. 

READ MORE: Ultimate Guide - October's FIFA World Cup Qualifiers 

FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ – AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar (Final Round)

Matchday 3: Australia v Oman
Date: Thursday, 7 October 2021
Venue: Khalifa International Stadium, Doha, Qatar
Kick-off: 9.30pm local (5.30am AEDT – Friday, 8 October 2021)
Broadcast: Live and free in Australia on 10 and 10 Play

Matchday 4: Japan v Australia
Date: Tuesday, 12 October 2021
Venue: Saitama Stadium, Saitama, Japan
Kick-off: 7.14pm local (9.14pm AEDT)
Broadcast: Live and free in Australia on 10 and 10 Play