RECENTLY Canberra was announced as host of the 2011 Asian Cup Qualifying match against Kuwait.

While I’m a massive fan of football matches going to the capital, and hopefully sooner rather than later an A-League licence, this definitely feels like a massive chance lost for the Gold Coast.

Many were tipping this match would go to the Gold Coast based on the agreement between the Queensland Government and the FFA. By the end of 2013 a game is guaranteed for either Skilled Park or Townsville’s Dairy Farmers Stadium.

Given a massive turnout (in the thousands) for a Socceroos training session on the Coast previous to a World Cup Qualifier in Brisbane, the home of United is nearly certain to win the match ahead of the home of the Fury. But neither will get a look in for the critical March 5 match.

With the last qualifier - at home against Indonesia - set to be awarded to ANZ Stadium in Sydney, the only hope for the Gold Coast to host an international match before 2012 is either the November fixture against Oman or an international friendly to be arranged and awarded to the region.

While both would still be massive occasions for football fans in South East Queensland, not having the March fixture denies GC United a massive chance to test and analyse the market that will ultimately decide the success or failure of the club.

It’s only a matter of months until Clive Palmer, Clive Mensink and their marketing team have to get serious about selling memberships and match tickets. Knowing who the likely customers would be for Gold Coast matches would be a major advantage in going about that campaign.

Will crowds be made up predominantly of Australian-born fans or immigrant fans? Male or female? Teenagers with friends or families with kids? Will people involved in grass roots football be interested?

How many fans can be attracted from Brisbane and how will they get to games? These are all questions that GCU will be trying hard to find the answers to, but a major Socceroos match could’ve been a strong indicator.

Further to helping in marketing, a Socceroos match would be as much a test event for fans as for the club. Many might not have attended the stadium. Many might not have attended a professional football match at all.

Some might not have faith in the quality of the A-League, and would be sceptical about the worth of parting with their cash to go and see their new local club.

A Socceroos match in March would give them all a chance for a trial run, and even if the team only includes the brightest Aussies in the A-League it has every chance of dispelling any feeling that local football offers inferior levels of entertainment compared to Europe.

A successful Gold Coast franchise will be a massive boost for the FFA. The small gesture of granting the upcoming match against Kuwait to the region could’ve significantly enhances the prospects of that happening.

While the chance for fans in Canberra to show that they deserve an A-League franchise is a positive thing, it probably could’ve waited until November.

In the meantime we can only hope that GC United can go about the business of scoping their market in the professional manner that has so far marked virtually every aspect of the club’s founding actions.