"It's another first for Australian football, and it's come off the back of a comprehensive qualification pathway which began in February last year," he said.

"Qualifying this time around, with the travel and match conditions the team has experienced, is a true measure of the progress football has made.

"While 'do or die' results, such as the famous Uruguay game four years ago are exciting, a qualifying campaign such as this one through the Asian zone is a tough test.

"We could not be more delighted."

Buckley added: "I am sure everyone joins us in congratulating Pim Verbeek, his staff and the Qantas Socceroos for this wonderful outcome.

"I urge Australian fans to show their appreciation of the squad in our final two matches of the qualifying campaign."

Australia meets Bahrain at Stadium Australia on Wednesday 10 June and Japan at the MCG on 17 June.

Earlier in the evening Japan also qualified for the 2010 FIFA World Cup when they defeated Uzbekistan 0-1 in Tashkent.

The Qantas Socceroos arrive in Sydney in preparation for the Bahrain game by a Qantas charter due to touch down at 1.05pm on Monday. The Bahrain team arrived in Sydney this morning.