Football Federation Australia chief Ben Buckley saw Australia qualify for the 2010 World Cup after drawing 0-0 in Qatar last night. He said: "It's another first for Australian football, and it's come off the back of a comprehensive qualification pathway which began in February last year.

"Qualifying this time around, with the travel and match conditions the team has experienced, is a true measure of the progress football has made.

"While 'do or die' results, such as the famous Uruguay game four years ago are exciting, a qualifying campaign such as this one through the Asian zone is a tough test.

"We could not be more delighted," Buckley said.

"I am sure everyone joins us in congratulating Pim Verbeek, his staff and the Qantas Socceroos for this wonderful outcome.

"I urge Australian fans to show their appreciation of the squad in our final two matches of the qualifying campaign."

Australia meets Bahrain at Stadium Australia on Wednesday 10 June and Japan at the MCG on 17 June.

Earlier in the evening Japan also qualified for the 2010 FIFA World Cup when they defeated Uzbekistan 0-1 in Tashkent.