Countdown to the 2010 FIFA World Cup - 8 games to go!

Australia kicks-off the fourth - and, hopefully, final - stage of qualification for the 2010 FIFA World Cup on Wednesday night (Thursday morning in Australia) when they take on Uzbekistan in Tashkent.

Australia kicks-off the fourth - and, hopefully, final - stage of qualification for the 2010 FIFA World Cup on Wednesday night (Thursday morning in Australia) when they take on Uzbekistan in Tashkent.

This stage of the Asian qualifying group will see Australia play eight home and away matches against Bahrain, Japan and Qatar in addition to Uzbekistan over the next nine months.

Once the eight matches are complete on 17 June next year, the top two teams from each Asian qualifying group will automatically qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. The other Asian qualifying group comprises Iran, North Korea, South Korea, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

"8 games to go puts the 2010 FIFA World Cup within reach," according to Football Federation Australia (FFA) CEO, Ben Buckley, speaking from Tashkent.

"All of us - FFA management and staff and the Socceroos players and staff - are focussed on doing everything we can to make sure Australia has a place amongst the final 32 countries at the FIFA World Cup in 2010 in South Africa."

Buckley said that 208 member nations of FIFA participate in the qualifying stages for the 2010 tournament, for the right to be amongst the final 32.

Earlier this year, the Socceroos successfully made it through the third stage of Asian group qualifying by topping their group which comprised China, Iraq and Qatar.

"Everyone remembers how good it was to see Australia compete in Germany in 2006, and we want to be at the FIFA World Cup again in 2010 - and beyond.

"Having strong home support for our four home games is an essential ingredient of success for the team also, and I know all of the Socceroos are counting on big crowds at all of our matches."

The first home match will be held in Brisbane on 15 October, with the venues yet to be announced by FFA for the return matches against Uzbekistan (1 April), Bahrain (10 June) and Japan (17 June).

If Australia is placed third in its group at the end of June 2009, there is still a chance to qualify with a play-off between the third placed team in the other Asian qualifying group. The winner of that tussle then plays the leading side from the Oceania Confederation for the final 2010 FIFA World Cup spot.

Buckley said that qualifying for the 2010 FIFA World Cup is one of FFA's top organisational priorities.

Uzbekistan v Australia will be shown live and exclusive on FOX Sports 3 from 1.30am AEST Thursday.