Stuart Ayres med rel: Countdown is on – 200 Days until Asian Cup

Minister for Sport and Recreation Stuart Ayres has congratulated the Socceroos ahead of their final match in the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

In arguably the Tournament’s toughest group including 2010 winner and runner up Spain and the Netherlands, as well as world number 14 Chile, the Socceroos appearance in the FIFA World Cup has again been a landmark achievement.

The Socceroos final match marks 200 days until our first ever Asian Cup, the biggest football tournament ever staged in Australia, and a great opportunity to support the green and gold on home soil.

Four World Cup finalists – Australia, South Korea, Iran and Japan – are among the 16 nations fighting for the Asian Cup in January 2015 in the five host cities of Sydney, Newcastle, Melbourne, Brisbane and Canberra.

Sydney will host seven games in the Asian Cup including the Socceroos vs Oman on January 13, a quarter-final, semi-final and final.

Newcastle hosts four games including reigning champions Japan in their campaign-opener against Palestine, a semi-final and the 3rd vs 4th play-off.

The tournament comes after the Matildas recently appeared in their second successive women’s Asian Cup final, narrowly failing to defend their title in Vietnam.

Western Sydney Wanderers will also carry Australia’s hopes into the quarter-finals of the Asian Champions League in August.

“The eyes of Asia and the world are on Australia and are taking notice of our competitiveness and passion for football,” Mr Ayres said.

“Following our third successive World Cup appearance, the people of NSW and Australia are immensely proud of our national sides.

“I think I speak on behalf of all Socceroos fans when I say stadiums across the nation will be packed with green and gold come January 2015 to cheer on our men in the Asian Cup,” Mr Ayres concluded.