Furious Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory officials will be seeking a please explain from Football Federation Australia after the Olyroos' unexpected early exit from Olympic qualifying left several players stranded in Qatar.

Three Melbourne Victory players - Connor Pain, Giancarlo Galifuocco and Thomas Deng - Brisbane Roar pair Brandon Borrello and Jamie Maclaren, plus new Adelaide United signing Stefan Mauk and Sydney left-back Alex Gersbach - who appears on the brink of a transfer to Denmark - have been stuck in Doha after they were unable to book flights back to Australia.

Pain and Galifuocco arrive home on Monday morning, with Deng to return on Monday night.

The Olyroos were widely expected to qualify for the Rio 2016 Olympics but managed just a win against Vietnam, a draw against Jordan and a loss against the United Arab Emirates, leading to a group stage exit.