Socceroos set to secure long-awaited homecoming for World Cup qualifiers with vaccinated fans in line to attend

Josh Thomas

Socceroos set to secure long-awaited homecoming for World Cup qualifiers with vaccinated fans in line to attend image

After being forced to call Qatar home for a recent World Cup qualifier against China, the Socceroos now look set to return to Australia. 

Coach Graham Arnold has previously claimed the chances of a return to home soil next month were promising with the side due to host Oman on October 7. 

The Daily Telegraph reports that the game will be hosted in Sydney at Bankwest Stadium with the Matildas also set to play there later in the month. 

The Socceroos' return to home soil will require the team to follow strict COVID-19 protocol with players set to wear tracking devices and undergo regular PCR tests. 

With vaccination rates in New South Wales increasing rapidly, fans who have had both jabs are also in with a chance of being allowed to attend the matches.

"These have been encouraging discussions and, based on current projections, 70 per cent of the eligible NSW population will be fully vaccinated by the time the Socceroos play Oman," Football Australia CEO James Johnson said.

"Our detailed quarantine management plan is world-class and we want to bring our teams home where they can bring much-needed joy to the community with some world-class football."

The Socceroos' home match against Saudi Arabia on November 11 is also set to played at Bankwest Stadium. 

The green and gold haven't played on home soil since October 2019 when they beat Nepal 5-0 in Canberra. 

Arnold's side claimed a 3-0 victory against China during the week which marked their ninth-straight win and made for the perfect start to the final phase of World Cup qualifying.

Australia next face Vietnam in Hanoi on Tuesday night with their hosts losing to Saudi Arabia 3-1 in their last outing. 

Josh Thomas