Socceroos to play Republic of Ireland

Football Federation Australia (FFA) today confirmed reports from Ireland that the Socceroos will play an international friendly against the Republic of Ireland in August.

Football Federation Australia (FFA) today confirmed reports from Ireland that the Socceroos will play an international friendly against the Republic of Ireland in August.

The match will be held at Thomond Park, Limerick on 12 August - the first ever senior international fixture to be played by the Irish football team in Limerick.

The Republic of Ireland is currently ranked 29th in the world and are joint top of their FIFA 2010 World Cup qualifying group, level on ten points (out of a possible 12) with World Cup holders Italy. The match will provide a good hit out for Ireland ahead of a qualifying match against Cyprus on 5 September.

Ireland has made the FIFA World Cup finals on three occasions in the past 20 years, the most recent being 2002 when they were knocked out on penalties against Spain in the Second Round.

The Socceroos are currently ranked 27th in the FIFA world rankings and are sitting top of their group for FIFA 2010 World Cup qualification with four games to go in the current qualifying round. Australia also ten points from a possible 12 and, if they remain in the top two of the group by the end of June will have qualified for South Africa.

The teams have only met once before: in Dublin in August 2003 with Ireland winning 2-1.

Ticket information will be made available closer to the match date on www.fai.ie

The Socceroos next match is this Thursday (5 March) against Kuwait in Canberra for an Asian Football Confederation (AFC) 2011 Asian Cup qualifying match, followed by a 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying game against Uzbekistan in Sydney on 1 April. They currently have ten confirmed matches in the 12 month period to March 2010.

Confirmed Socceroos matches in 2009 and 2010

Thursday 5 March 2009 Australia v Kuwait, 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualifier Canberra Stadium

Wednesday 1 April 2009 Australia v Uzbekistan, 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier Stadium Australia, Sydney

Saturday 6 June 2009 Qatar v Australia, 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier Al Sadd Club, Doha, Qatar

Wednesday 10 June 2009 Australia v Bahrain, 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier Stadium Australia, Sydney

Wednesday 17 June 2009 Australia v Japan, 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier MCG, Melbourne

Wednesday 12 August 2009 Republic of Ireland v Australia, International Friendly Thomond Park, Limerick

Saturday 14 November 2009 Australia v Oman, 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualifier venue TBA, Australia

Wednesday 18 November 2009 Oman v Australia, 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualifier Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex, Muscat, Oman

Wednesday 6 January 2010 Kuwait v Australia, 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualifier International Jaber Al-Ahmad Stadium, Kuwait City

Wednesday 3 March 2010 Australia v Indonesia, 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualifier venue TBA, Australia