Socceroos boss Ange Postecoglou was full of praise for the nib Stadium surface following Thursday’s 2-0 win over Iraq.

Postecoglou has previously pleaded for better playing surfaces for Socceroos home matches, with multi-purpose venues having issues with pitches, in particular Suncorp Stadium at last year’s Asian Cup.

Perth didn’t hold any Asian Cup games and hadn’t hosted a Socceroos game for a decade prior to last year’s Australia-Bangladesh qualifier at nib Stadium.

The venue has become more attractive for FFA, despite its relatively small capacity of 20,500, due to the standard of the playing surface.

The two matches have attracted crowds of 19,495 and 18,923, which could be tripled at the new Perth Stadium which will have retractable seating for rectangular sporting events.

Football Federation Australia CEO Gallop toured the new stadium on Thursday morning.

After the tour, HG Sports Turf was announced as the pitch contractor for the new Perth Stadium, which will also be a multi-purpose venue, with cricket and Australian Rules football to be played there.

“It’s going to be world class,” Gallop said. “We’ve heard that the turf will be the same quality as nib.

“One of the reasons we’re back in Perth 12 months after we played Bangladesh here is the quality of the surface.

“Ange has been vocal about wanting his team to play on quality pitches and therefore for a range of factors, but significantly, pitch quality was part of the reason we’re back in Perth. 

“To have that in the new stadium will be important for us.”

The construction of the new stadium is understood to be ahead of schedule, with a potential completion date late next year.

“There will be opportunities for Socceroos matches, Matildas matches and Perth Glory would be looking to use this stadium for big games as well,” Gallop said.

“It’s undeniable that football is the sport that can showcase Perth to the world and therefore we expect to be a significant hirer of this stadium in years to come.”

Gallop said the FFA was also actively pursuing the opportunity to have a Socceroos game as the official opening of the venue.

It seems likely the venue will open well prior to the 2018 AFL season and during a window after Australia’s 2017 Confederations Cup and 2018 World Cup qualifying campaigns are concluded, creating an opportunity for football.

“We would certainly advocate for football because it would put a spotlight on Perth and on a world-class stadium that perhaps many other sports can’t deliver,” Gallop said.

“We’ve certainly been active in promoting the idea that an opening match involving the Socceroos would be a huge showcase for this construction.”

It is understood, Perth Glory may also look to host games early in the 2017-18 season as test events for the new stadium prior to its official opening.

The club would utilize only the lower bowl of 20,000 seats for regular season A-League matches.

“That would be a neat way of getting our foot in the door here,” Gallop said.