Socceroos coach Graham Arnold hopes Tuesday night's record crowd at Canberra Stadium has sent a message to soccer authorities to clear the uncertainty over the city's men's and women's A-League teams.
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The Australian side claimed a dominant 5-0 win over Lebanon in front of 25,023 passionate fans, the most for an international soccer match in the ACT. It was the first Socceroos game in the region since 2019.
The match came amid a gloomy outlook for the sport in the region, with dark clouds gathering over A-League Women's side Canberra United as the process to add a men's team drags on.
Capital Football, holder of the women's licence, finally broke their silence on Tuesday amid a fan revolt and fears the team will effectively cease operations after Saturday's season finale against Brisbane.
The organisation conceded new investment is needed in order to keep the team afloat.
The initial plan was for the investors in the new A-League Men's team to take over the women's program, however the new ownership model is yet to materialise.
A-League officials have been claiming for months an announcement regarding a new owner of both teams is close. With no deal confirmed, there are fears the situation could have disastrous implications for the existing women's team.
Arnold chose not to comment on the A-League saga but said Tuesday night's crowd is proof elite soccer should be played in Canberra on a regular basis.
"It was fantastic," Arnold said. "The pitch was great and I don't think I've ever seen the weather like this in Canberra ... the hotel was fantastic and the crowd tonight was really good.
"As I said to the boys before the game, 'This should be a city that has a football club so go out there and show everyone, inspire everyone to have that'. To see the crowd there tonight like that and supporting the boys was really good."
The Socceroos were clinical in the 5-0 victory, Craig Goodwin scoring a double and adding an assist in his return to the side.
The 32-year-old missed last week's win over Lebanon with illness but showed no signs of this with a man of the match display in Canberra.
It was a bittersweet evening for the squad, with Ajdan Hrustic picking up an injury in a challenge Arnold feels deserved a red card. He was replaced in the second half by Patrick Yazbek who made his Socceroos debut.
Goodwin is confident the future within the Australian team is bright and expressed his desire for the side to return to the ACT in the near future.
"It was fantastic to come to Canberra for the first time in quite a few years and to get a packed stadium and hit a different area of supporters," Goodwin said. "It's really important we continue to hit different cities in Australia and I have been quite vocal on it recently.
"It's fantastic we've come to Canberra, it's fantastic we're going to Perth in a couple of months but I really hope we can get to Adelaide. It's been seven and a half years so I hope we can go there and get a big crowd for that one because I'm sure it will be a great atmosphere again."
Record crowd sends message as Socceroos secure dominant win in Canberra
ACT sporting fans have sent a clear message to Football Australia with a record crowd turning out to watch the Socceroos defeat Lebanon at Canberra Stadium on Tuesday night.
The World Cup qualifier was the first international soccer game at the ground since 2019 and the Canberra faithful voted with their feet to highlight the desire for the national team to visit the capital more regularly.
The crowd of 25,023 was the highest for a soccer match at Canberra Stadium, eclipsing the 24,800 that attended a double-header featuring the Matildas during the 2000 Olympics.
The Socceroos were clinical in the second stanza, turning a 1-0 half-time lead into a commanding 5-0 win, with player of the match Craig Goodwin scoring a double.
The result virtually assures Australia a safe passage to the next round of World Cup qualification with two matches remaining in the current stage.
The real message, however, was sent off the pitch, with fans packing into Canberra Stadium for the clash.
ACT government officials have made clear their desire for the Matildas to come to town and Tuesday's crowd proved supporters will turn out in force to watch their national team.
Attendances have now eclipsed 18,000 in four of the past five matches at Canberra Stadium, with 18,563 watching the Socceroos defeat Nepal in their last trip to the capital in 2019.
Remarkably, Tuesday's match was hastily arranged at short notice after Lebanon were unable to host international fixtures due to conflict in the Middle East.
The game comes amid a gloomy back drop for soccer in the ACT, with Canberra United's future under a cloud.
Licence holders Capital Football finally broke their silence on Tuesday, with officials declaring new investment is required for the club to continue operating.
The bid for a men's A-League team is also dragging on, with uncertainty over when an investor will be locked in. The owner of the new side is slated to take over the women's team as well.
The Socceroos crowd, however, highlights the opportunities on offer for soccer in Canberra.
AT A GLANCE
SOCCEROOS 5 (Kusini Yengi 2'; Bassel Jradi OG 47'; Craig Goodwin 48', 81'; John Iredale 68') bt LEBANON 0. Crowd 25,023 at Canberra Stadium.
Cameron Mee
Sports reporter at the Canberra Times
Sports reporter at the Canberra Times
