The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Sydney

Australia will play their potentially deciding Asian World Cup group match against Japan in Melbourne on June 17 next year, Football Federation Australia said on Monday.

FFA also announced that the Socceroos' two other remaining home qualifying matches against Uzbekistan on April 1 and Bahrain on June 10 will be played in Sydney.

Australia, who face Qatar in a World Cup qualifier in Brisbane on Wednesday, have a great rivalry with Japan and beat the 'Blue Samurai" 3-1 on their way to the second round of the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany.

"This is the final match for the Socceroos in round 4 of the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers and the one that could determine whether we qualify directly for the World Cup or not," FFA chief executive Ben Buckley said Monday.

The top two in both Asian qualifying groups qualify for the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa.

Australia's remaining schedule for 2010 FIFA World Cup Asian qualifiers:

October 16 - Australia v Qatar, Brisbane

November 19 - Bahrain v Australia, Bahrain

February 11 - Japan v Australia, Tokyo

April 1 - Australia v Uzbekistan, Sydney

June 6 - Qatar v Australia, Doha

June 10 - Australia v Bahrain, Sydney

June 17 - Australia v Japan, Melbourne