Why do Australia play in Asia and not Oceania?
- Published
Australia compete in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) after quitting the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) in 2006 in order to simplify their path to World Cup qualification.
At the time, the best team in Oceania qualifying had to face a South American team in a two-leg playoff to reach the World Cup, while Asia had four automatic qualifying spots and a play-off.
The Socceroos had lost out on World Cup qualification via the inter-confederation play-offs in 1986, 1994, 1998 and 2002.
They did qualify for the 2006 World Cup after topping their group in Oceania and beating Uruguay on penalties in the inter-confederation play-offs.
Results in Oceania were also historically one-sided, with Australia registering a 31-0 win over American Samoa and a 22-0 victory over Tonga in 2002 World Cup qualifying.
Both Fifa and the AFC unanimously accepted Australia's proposal, meaning Australia could qualify via the Asian Conference for the 2010 World Cup onwards, play in the Asian Cup, and allow A-League clubs to compete in the AFC Champions League.
The switch paid off, with Australia qualifying for every World Cup since.
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Could Australia switch back?
The Socceroos beat Saudi Arabia 2-1 in June to guarantee their spot in 2026
Following Fifa's decision to expand the 2026 tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico to 48 teams, there is now one automatic qualifying spot in Oceania and eight in Asia.
Both New Zealand and Australia succeeded in qualifying for 2026 and will both compete at a World Cup for the first time since 2010.
When asked about the decision to switch to the AFC, then-Australia coach Graham Arnold said the Socceroos made the right call.
"I really think it has improved us as a nation in football because the competition and the teams we're playing against are much harder," he said in 2024.
But could Australia go back to Oceania?
"I don't make those rules but New Zealand might not be happy if we go back," Arnold said.
Thanks to Terry in London, Sandy in Staines-upon-Thames, Jak in London and Mark in Swindon for the question.
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