It's now been over two years since the Socceroos last played in Australia and coach Graham Arnold is desperate to get the side home in front fans next month after hitting a bump in World Cup qualifying.
Arnold saw first hand the difference a home crowd can make on Tuesday night with Japan scoring late to secure a 2-1 win in Saitama with a small number of fans urging the Blue Samurai on.
After losing two of their last three matches, Japan opened the scoring after nine minutes with Ajdin Hrustic equalising for Australia in the 70th minute.
The Blue Samurai were desperate for a win though and with a home crowd behind them, forced in an own goal off Aziz Behich in the dying stages.
Going into the match, the Socceroos had won 11 straight games but struggled away from home against their Japanese opponents.
With Australia last playing at home on October 10, 2019, Arnold has pleaded with the government to grant them a return with fans with the side due to host group leaders Saudi Arabia on November 11.
"I have watched Japan play the last three games without a crowd and their energy was nowhere near where it was tonight," Arnold said post-match.
"I am reaching out to the NSW government and really appealing them to help us on our journey for our World Cup pathway, that they really help us by allowing fans in the stadium.
"I do believe that the second half we kicked into gear, we fought the crowd, we did very well, we got back to 1-1, and then probably again the crowd noise, the energy the crowd gave the players in the last 15 minutes helped get them home.
"So again, I just really appeal to the government to help us on this journey to qualify for a World Cup. NSW is open now, please help us – we need our crowd back."
With the Matildas set to play at CommBank Stadium later this month, the Socceroos are expected to play at the same venue but there remains uncertainty around crowd caps and quarantine arrangements for the team.
Star midfielder Hrustic is hopeful he can play in front of home fans again soon with the side needing an edge as they look to qualify directly for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
"There have been rumours that we will play back at home again," Hrustic said.
"The most important thing for us is that we need energy...and we need our 12th man, and that’s our fans.
"We will hopefully go back home, but with fans it will be great. You saw that we needed it in the last dying minutes."