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Canberra, the four-year wait for a Socceroos match is almost over. The Football Federation Australia will lodge papers next week to lock in the host city for the first home World Cup and Asian Cup qualifier against Nepal. Canberra is in contention to host the opening clash on October 10 after the ACT government finalised a deal to bring international action back to the capital as part of plans for a $25 million training facility at Throsby. The Socceroos will host four joint-qualification matches over the next 12 months, playing against Nepal, Kuwait, Chinese Taipei and Jordan in Australia. The Socceroos will play against Kuwait on March 26 next year, Chinese Taipei on June 4 and Jordan on June 6. It's understood there is a preference for Canberra to host a game in warmer months of the year to ensure the Socceroos - and their fans - avoid the capital's winter chill. That would make the clashes against Nepal and Kuwait the most likely options, but there is no guarantee the request for a warm timeslot will be met. Canberra will host three international matches over the next 18 months as per a three-way partnership between the FFA, the government and Capital Football. The Socceroos and Matildas will each play one match, with the Young Matildas to also play in Canberra. The Socceroos haven't played in Canberra since 2015 when 19,500 watched a clash against Kyrgyzstan , while the Matildas haven't been to the capital since they played against New Zealand at the AIS Track in 2013. The FFA has to finalise paperwork for the first fixtures of the qualification process by July 31, meaning Canberra could know whether it will host the game in the coming weeks. If FFA bosses decided against an home opener in Canberra, they will lodge their next set of paperwork in December. MORE CANBERRA SPORT Capital Football chief executive Phil Brown was excited at the chance to host international soccer again and hoped it would spark interest in the sport in Canberra. "There's none in particular we have a preference for," Brown said. "We're just really excited to see international games back in the Territory." "It would be great for all the young boys and girls who hold the Socceroos and Matildas players as their idols to be able to go to their local stadium and see them play." The Socceroos will need to finish as the winner of Group B or four best runners-up to advance directly to the Asian Cup finals a well as the next qualifying stage for Qatar World Cup in 2022. Meanwhile, Canberra's A-League bid officials are still working in the background in the hope of securing a licence in the competition. The FFA knocked back Canberra's campaign for inclusion at the end of last year, instead opting for expansion teams in Sydney and Melbourne.

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