Why do Australia play football in Asia, and do Fifa rules allow nations to switch continents?

AUSTRALIA are preparing to take on Syria in their two-legged Asian World Cup qualifying play-off.

But a quick look at a map may lead some fans to wonder why the two countries are playing each other at all.

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Why do Australia play football in Asia?

Australia had competed in the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) until 2006, but grew frustrated with Fifa’s continued reluctance to grant the continent an automatic World Cup qualifying spot.

In 1966 (to North Korea), 1970 (to Israel), 1986 (to Scotland), 1994 (to Argentina), 1998 (to Iran) and 2002 (to Uruguay), Australia were knocked out of the World Cup in inter-continental play-offs.

Ironically, the Socceroos did manage to beat Uruguay in a play-off and qualify for the World Cup in 2006 – their final year in the OFC.

While Australia were keen to embark on what was perceived to be an easier World Cup qualifying route with increased marketing opportunities through Asia, their rivals in Oceania were happy to see the country leave the OFC so as to enhance their own chances of qualifying for international tournaments.

Since Australia left, New Zealand have qualified for the 2010 World Cup while Tahiti qualified for the 2013 Confederations Cup and Fiji were represented at the 2016 Olympics.

Can any country play international football in a different continent?

Countries can move between continental confederations if they receive the agreement of the confederation they are looking to join and the Fifa Executive Committee.

When Australia moved to the AFC, Sepp Blatter said: "All the participants were happy with the move and this being the case, the executive committee approved it under the statutes.

"The Oceania delegates have thought for many years that Australia was too powerful and blocked the way of the other 11 countries.

"Now New Zealand, and the Pacific islands at least have a chance. They can go it alone, I am sure it will be a success."

After Israel was expelled from AFC in 1974, the country began playing World Cup qualifiers with Uefa before becoming a full member in 1994.

Kazakhstan also switched its affiliation from Asia to Europe in 2002.

And Surinam and Guyana, while geographically part of South America, have always played in North American World Cup qualifying.