The Socceroos left it late to organise their base camp for the 2022 World Cup, but with a little help from an old friend, they have managed to land themselves a swanky training facility for this year’s tournament.
Australia were one of the final teams to qualify for the competition, which kicks off this month, after defeating Peru on penalties to secure their spot in a dramatic qualifier at the end of the 2021-22 season, with Andrew Redmayne the hero in goal.
Football Australia chiefs revealed they had opted not to undertake research on potential base camp venues until they knew for sure that their place in the tournament would be confirmed, meaning they faced limited options compared to the likes of England, Belgium and France.
Australia’s training base for the 2022 World Cup has been confirmed as the Aspire Academy in the Doha Sports City
The venue contains the state-of-the-art Aspire Dome, which can host 13 different sporting events simultaneously
The Khalifa International Stadium is situated nearby and will be used for the World Cup when it kicks off in November
The Socceroos will be staying in on-site accommodation at the Aspire Academy, in rooms just like this one
A communal area within the Aspire Academy where Australia’s squad can watch games during this year’s tournament
The dining room at the Aspire Academy where the Australia squad will spend time eating their meals together
Changing rooms at the Socceroos’ training base where Graham Arnold could provide tactical instructions to his stars
A general view inside the Aspire Academy, which Tim Cahill helped arrange for the Socceroos to stay at in Qatar
The training base also has gym complete with weights, bike machines, treadmills and a number of squat racks
The fitness centre also has a boxing heavy bag, allowing players to let out their frustrations, and a state-of-the art stabilometric platform (right) to help the Socceroos with their balance
But the Socceroos managed to find a home for the tournament, striking a deal to stay at the Aspire Academy in Doha, Qatar.
The venue is a sports academy based in the Doha Sports City of Qatar, which was founded in 2004 to help scout and develop future Qatari sporting stars.
Graham Arnold’s side will likely make full use of the Aspire Dome, an indoor multi-purpose arena which can host up to 13 different sporting events simultaneously, all in a climate-controlled area. The Dome also boasts a full-sized football pitch.
The Socceroos won’t be the only team making use of the training facilities, either, with Qatar and Ghana also set to prepare for the tournament at the same venue.
Football Australia confirmed to Daily Mail Australia that the squad will stay at the on-site Aspire Academy Athlete Accommodation, meaning their base is a stone’s throw from where Arnold will put them through their paces.
The Aspire Tower – currently the tallest building in Qatar – overlooks the Aspire Academy and was completed in 2007
An example of one of the training pitches at the Aspire Academy. PSV Eindhoven once visited for a mid-season tour in 2020
A view of the Khalifa International Stadium, which is a stone’s throw from where the Socceroos will be staying
Australia will train at the Aspire Academy alongside Qatar and Ghana, and will stay at nearby academy accommodation
Football Australia chief James Johnson said earlier this year that former Socceroos hero Cahill would play an integral role in the sourcing of a venue to stay at in November, and it will come as no surprise to learn that the ex-Everton star is deeply involved in the Aspire Academy.
In 2020, Cahill was hired as the chief sports officer of the government-funded football school in Qatar and his knowledge of the facilities would have come in handy for the Socceroos.
Cahill has spent the past few years living and working in the Arab nation and boasts an extensive knowledge of Qatari football as well as the layout and facilities, leaving him well placed to provide expert insights that will benefit Arnold’s side.
‘We didn’t want to count our chickens before they hatch but now we know we will be here in November this year, those discussions have already started,’ FFA boss James Johnson told the Sydney Morning Herald of the Socceroos’ potential training base for the World Cup.
‘The good news for us is we have one of our all-time greats, Timmy Cahill… we are already in discussions with him about where we stay. He’s local, he cares about the team.’
Cahill has also sought to immerse himself in the business side of football, and told Sportsmail how he played a part in the appointment of Frank Lampard at his former club, Everton, last season.
‘Since retiring, I’ve really focused on my academics,’ he said. ‘ [Everton owner] Farhad Moshiri asked me to be part of the process in picking Frank and that [a role at Everton] is a work in progress. I’m a work in progress.
‘My Everton connection will always be there. How that is going forward is down to the owners to talk about. For me, to be a strong leader, you have to evolve. If I want to go to Everton one day, I’m going to go with my eyes wide open. I’m only 42. When an opportunity comes, I need to be ready.’
Cahill has lived in Qatar for three years and is an ambassador for the World Cup. He believes ‘football has the power to bring the world together’ and ‘bring about positive change’ amid questions about the hosts’ human rights record. He also sees himself as an ambassador for Asia, not just Qatar.
Tim Cahill (left) has played a crucial role in the sourcing of the venue, having worked closely with Qatar in recent years
The Socceroos are aiming to win their first World Cup game since 2010 but face a tough group in Qatar