Been the big fish in a small pond is only good when we are guaranteed the cherry on the cake (World Cup Qualification). The fact is we aren't, it's not that valuable with qualification less than assured or even 50/50.
Move to Asia and force FIFA to do something for this region.
Move to Asia and force FIFA to do something for this region.
100 x this!
I would rather us miss out on going to a World Cup(s), if it meant we had played a proper qualifying tournament against quality sides (South Korea, Japan, Australia etc). That's the level we should aspire to be at! Not scrounging around until 2026 (and beyond) waiting for a golden bloody ticket to an event every 4 years that should've been left at 32 teams in the first place.
But asking FIFA to do something to help goes against their monetary gathering interests and immediately would be chucked in the too hard basket and we'd end up in the exact same position for the next several years.
Think there is still a very large part of the Aus football community, that's very happy they left the OFC. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wYfsVYMl3Y
Made 2006 WC, through OFC but that was their first WC appearance in 28 years. Too many intercontinental playoff bad memories to handle - the worst was going out to Iran on away goals at the MCG.
After joining AFC they have yes made every WC since (3 from 3), plus in a pre Covid world they got to see their Socceroos heroes regularly at home in AFC qualifiers - and also the joy of winning a home Asian Cup.