Instead,Arnold will depend on training sessions ahead of the opening match against the reigning World Cup champions,France.
But Arnold said the Socceroos already had one big advantage over their group rivals,which also include Tunisia and Denmark.
When the COVID-19 pandemic closed borders and disrupted the World Cup qualifying process,Arnold made the call to play “home” matches in Doha.
The Socceroos’ final qualifier,in which they defeated Peru on penaltiesto secure their berth in a fifth-straight World Cup,was also held in Qatar.
“I do feel that that gave us an advantage against Peru because Peru hadn’t played there before — air-conditioned stadium,the pitches are lightning quick,” he said.
“We’d had four games there and won all four games. The boys are extremely happy there,so for us to go into that game against France ... we know what it’s like and so it’ll be good for us,an advantage.”
Another benefit,Arnold said,is that all the Socceroos’ group matches will be played at the same ground,the Al Janoub Stadium at Al Wakrah,south of Doha.
The Zaha Hadid-designed Al Janoub Stadium,south of Doha,will host all the Socceroos’ group matches.Credit:David Ramos/Getty Images
Meanwhile,Johnson said Australia was mulling a bid for the 2034 or 2038 men’s World Cup,following on from next year’s Women’s World Cup,which Australia will co-host with New Zealand.
“[Canada] started off hosting Women’s World Cup in 2015 and you fast-forward to 2024 and they’re co-host of the men’s World Cup,” he said.
Johnson said a similar joint bid could help exorcise the demons of 2010,when Australia received just one vote during the controversial bidding process that saw the showpiece event awarded to Qatar.
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“I think we’ve got to look at us as a region and yes,absolutely with New Zealand,but also we’ve got a lot of eyeballs and a lot of growth in south-east Asia as well,so I think we need to explore both,” he said.
More immediate,Johnson said,was Australia’s expression of interest to host the 2023 Asian Cup,after hosts China pulled out due to that nation’s zero-COVID policy.
“The important thing for us is when the competition is going to be played,” Johnson said.
“At the moment,it’s scheduled to be played in the middle of 2023.
“That just doesn’t work for us because we’re hosting the women’s World Cup around the same time,so we are talking to AFC about whether or not they would be open to a January or February 2024.
“If that’s a possibility,then it’s something that we would explore in a meaningful way.”
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