Football Federation Australia today announced that the Qantas Socceroos will kick off their campaign on the road to the Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup™ in Brisbane.

The opening match of the 3rd Round Asian FIFA World Cup qualifiers will see the Qantas Socceroos play Thailand at Suncorp Stadium on Friday, 2 September, 8.00pm kick off.

The event is part of a long-term partnership between FFA and Events Queensland to host major football matches in a region where football is growing at a rapid rate.

"The first game on the road to Brazil will be significant, not just for the qualification points at stake, but to once again unite the nation behind the Qantas Socceroos in their monumental task to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup finals," said FFA CEO Ben Buckley.

"FFA is delighted that we'll start the journey in Brisbane, which is obviously a hot spot for football in the afterglow of the Roar's Grand Final triumph and Matt McKay's growing stature with the national team."

The match will be the team's first in Brisbane since the Qantas Socceroos sealed their 2010 AFC Asian Cup finals berth in March last year.

Brisbane showed their fervent support for football on Orange Sunday for Brisbane Roar's dramatic Hyundai A-League 2011 Grand Final win in March and will be called on again to help kick-start the Qantas Socceroos road to the Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup™.

"We're excited to host the Socceroos and Thailand at Suncorp Stadium after such a successful football season," said Queensland Minister for Sport Phil Reeves.

"I'm sure Queenslanders will turn out in droves to watch the match with our local boy Matt McKay on the field playing for Australia.

"It kicks off one of our biggest weekends with the Riverfire Festival on Saturday night."

The draw for the Asian Qualifiers for the 2014 FIFA World Cup was made in Rio de Janeiro last month. The Qantas Socceroos have been drawn with Saudi Arabia, Oman and Thailand in Group D. The top two nations progress to the 4th Round group stages.