Australia Find Out Tonight On Play-off Schedule

Guus Hiddink and his Qantas Socceroo squad will find out in the early hours of tomorrow (Sunday) morning (aest), just what their route will entail for the November play-off against a yet to be determined South American opponent.

Guus Hiddink and his Qantas Socceroo squad will find out in the early hours of tomorrow (Sunday) morning (aest), just what their route will entail for the November play-off against a yet to be determined South American opponent.

The draw for the inter-continental play-off matches featuring Oceania against South America and Asia against North & Central America, will kick-off proceedings at the 55th annual FIFA Congress to be held in the north African city of Marrakesh, Morocco.

The FIFA Congress will also see the confirmation of Australia-s move from Oceania to become the 46th member of the Asian Football Confederation.

However most interest for the majority of football fans, will be on the draw that will decide who will play home first and away second in the crucial inter-continental play-off-s. The draw will commence at 12 midnight (aest) and can be viewed via the FIFA.com website.

The preferred option for Hiddink (pictured above) and his squad is to play away first, most likely against either Uruguay or Colombia and play the return leg at Telstra Stadium in Sydney the following Wednesday. This scenario has several advantages, including less travel for the players coming from Europe.

Four years ago that was not the case and despite winning the first leg here thanks to a Kevin Muscat penalty, the Australian squad was subjected to a very hostile Uruguayan crowd both upon arriving in the country and during the match, which they ultimately lost 3-0, to miss out on the finals in 2002.