Tim Cahill may have hung up his boots, but that won’t stop him playing a key role for the Socceroos in yet another World Cup campaign.
While the players celebrated into the night after beating Peru in Monday’s intercontinental play-off in Doha, Football Australia staff were turning their attention towards preparations for the November World Cup, including finalising warm-up games, potential farewell matches, training bases and accommodation.
To accelerate that process, FA has sought the advice of Cahill, the Socceroos great who has spent the past few years living and working in Qatar. In 2020, Cahill was employed an ambassador for the 2022 World Cup, before being hired as the chief sports officer of the Aspire Academy, a government-funded football school in Doha.
Having worked directly within Qatari football and for the local organising committee in Doha, few people have gained a better understanding of the layout of the World Cup, facilities and challenges than Cahill. While his role has been met with criticism due to the high death rate of migrant workers in Qatar, his insight has become invaluable to the Socceroos.
“We didn’t want to count our chickens before they hatch but now we know we will be here in November this year, those discussions will start today in Doha,” Football Australia chief James Johnson said of the Socceroos’ potential training base for the World Cup.
“The good news for us is we have one of our all-time greats, Timmy Cahill, we are already in discussions with him about where we stay. He’s local, he cares about the team.”
Tim Cahill has been living in Qatar as an ambassador for the World Cup.
Throughout Australia’s preparations for the play-offs, Cahill has been a regular presence within the Socceroos’ camp. He delivered a speech to the team in the days before the victory over Peru and has played the role of a mentor to many of the players.
The tiny Gulf state doesn’t pose many logistical problems with all venues within a short distance from the capital Doha. Australia has been confirmed in Group D of the tournament, alongside France, Tunisia and Denmark and will play their games in Doha and Al-Wakrah, south of the capital.
Football Australia is yet to lock in any warm-up games in Doha before the Socceroos’ first match on November 23 (AEST) against France. Coach Graham Arnold will have a big say on who Australia plays in their warm-up games and if there will be a farewell match in Australia in late October or early November.
What is certain, however, is the Socceroos will play a two-game series against New Zealand in September to mark their 100th anniversary. One match will be in New Zealand while a venue for the home game is not yet confirmed, however it’s understood Brisbane is an option.
“There will be a match in New Zealand against New Zealand and there will also be a match in Australia against New Zealand. This is all about celebrating the 100 years of the Socceroos,” Johnson said.
The Sydney Morning Herald & The Age understands the Socceroos will likely wear a light blue and maroon kit for the games in honour of their first uniform in the 1922 New Zealand series with the colours influenced by NSW and Queensland, the states from which the players came from for the first team.
Central defender Harry Souttar has already resumed training with Stoke City after his ACL rupture last year and will be fit in time for the World Cup. It remains to be seen whether Tom Rogic will return to the Socceroos for the tournament after missing the play-offs for personal reasons.
Several Australians will make a jump from the A-League to Europe before the start of next season in a major boost for their preparations, including centre-back Kye Rowles who was impeccable against Peru. He will move from the Mariners to Hearts in Scotland. His Central Coast teammate Lewis Miller has joined Hibs while Adelaide youngsters Yaya Dukuly and Mohamed Toure joined French club Reims, making the trio potential bolters for the World Cup.