The MCG in September has been solely the preserve of AFL football for generations. Tonight, in front of an expected 60,000 plus crowd, the code known by its detractors (many of whom still lurk within the ranks of the AFL media cheer squad) as “wog ball” makes another foray into hostile AFL territory when the Socceroos host the world’s number two side, Argentina.

The match, which was initially set down for 6 June this year, was rescheduled to land in the southern capital in the heart of the AFL finals series.

It’s a significant victory for the FFA. Australia has hung onto a date with the South American giants at a time when most of their players (and to a large degree our own) have just recommenced their club seasons, predominantly in Europe.

Both FFA CEO Ben Buckley and current Socceroos coach Graham Arnold have been quick to claim the fact that Argentina are sending a near full strength squad for this fixture underlines the growing stature of Australian football in the eyes of the games traditional super powers.

But don’t imagine Argentina’s best players were jostling each other in the queue to board the plane to Australia in anticipation of a match against the Socceroos. Initial reports were that the Argentina Football Association had planned to send a B-Team for the original June fixture, which would have been a major embarrassment to the FFA ahead of Australia’s ill-fated Asian Cup campaign.

Long time football followers still cringe with embarrassment at the 1999 visit of a Ronaldo-less Brazilian B-Team to the MCG in November of that year. The match had been touted as a chance to pit us against the best, and when the B-Team turned up those that had lain out big bikkies for their tickets were understandably peeved.

Though a Brazilian B-Team that contained the likes of a then all but unknown Ronaldinho was exciting enough for aficionados, Soccer Australia were forced into an embarrassing backflip and made the game a freebie. Seventy thousand turned up to enjoy a night that was shaping up as a humiliating debacle for the sport.

That Carlos Tevez and Lionel Messi and their mates will be at the MCG tonight is proof that the FFA has learned the dark art of FIFA diplomacy. FFA boss Frank Lowy understands the nefarious politics of FIFA and has cultivated a relationship with the omnipotent Sepp Blatter, which means Australia is now heard as well as seen in the corridors of power in Zurich.

It’s this same influence that helped build a path for the Socceroos to the Asian Confederation and has seen Sydney secure the rights to host one of FIFA’s prize junkets, the 2008 FIFA World Congress.

Tonight’s match is proof the FFA and the Socceroos are now very much part of the FIFA family. Which may make many of us who’ve read any of Andrew Jennings’ journalism on the football’s world governing body feel very uncomfortable.