Asian Cup 2015: Socceroos’ triumph to boost FIFA rankings ahead of World Cup campaign
THE Socceroos could climb up to 47 spots on the controversial FIFA world rankings after their Asian Cup success.
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THE Socceroos could climb up to 47 spots on the controversial FIFA world rankings after their Asian Cup success.
Critically, the sharp climb will ensure the Socceroos will be seeded for the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, which kick off on June 11.
Ranked 97 when the Asian Cup kicked off, Australia are expected to jump to between 60-63 when the next rankings are officially released on February 12.
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The Socceroos were Asia’s 10th ranked side heading into the Asian Cup, but their near flawless campaign will see them overtake China, Jordan, Oman, Qatar, UAE and Uzbekistan.
Only Iran, Japan and South Korea will be ranked higher among the Asian nations, ensuring the Socceroos will be among the eight seeded teams when the draw is released in March.
The Socceroos, whose next game is a friendly away to Germany in March, have now qualified for the 2017 Confederations Cup in Russia.
“The Asian Cup wasn’t the full stop for us, we’re going into a four-year World Cup cycle and that’s part of the overall plan for me. I’m always looking at that,’’ Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou said.
“A successful Asian Cup means we go strongly into a four-year World Cup cycle, so that we can qualify and peak at the next World Cup so we can go in there to make a real impact, not just qualify and be happy with that.”
After a series of playoffs involving the AFC’s lowest ranked nations, the Socceroos enter the Russia 2018 qualifiers with 39 other teams.
They’ll be segregated into eight groups of five, the biggest pool of qualifying teams since Australia joined the AFC in 2006.
The four best runners up will join the eight group winners in the third round of qualifying, as the final 12 are divided into two groups of six.
The top two from each group will advance to Russia 2018, with the third-place teams in either group playing off ahead of the continental playoff in November 2017.
The Socceroos will play 18-20 qualifiers during the cycle, with eight to be played in 2015 alone.
Consecutive games are scheduled for FIFA international windows in June, September, October and November.
They will double up as qualifiers for the 2019 Asian Cup, which will increase to a 24-team competition.
ROAD TO RUSSIA 2018: KEY WORLD CUP QUALIFYING DATES
February 12: Next FIFA world rankings released
March 25: Friendly away to Germany
Late March: World Cup qualifying draw (eight groups of five)
June 11: Socceroos’ first World Cup qualifier
September: 2 World Cup qualifiers (Double FIFA date)
October: 2 World Cup qualifiers (Double FIFA date)
November: 2 World Cup qualifiers (Double FIFA date)
Originally published as Asian Cup 2015: Socceroos’ triumph to boost FIFA rankings ahead of World Cup campaign
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