Capital Football chief executive Heather Reid believes strong crowd numbers at Canberra's Asian Cup games shows the city has the appetite to host the Socceroos and other quality one-off fixtures.
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Reid has also called on a statue of one of Canberra's finest soccer players to be erected at Canberra Stadium as part of the legacy of the Asian Cup.
More than 34,000 people attended the opening four Asian Cup games at Canberra Stadium, with another 21,000 predicted for Sunday night's match between China and North Korea.
Up to 70,000 people are expected to go through the gates for the seven games, ending with next Friday night's quarter-final.
Those figures are well above initial predictions after concerns of low crowds based on disappointing ticket sales prior to the tournament.
The strong turnouts and the immaculate condition of the Canberra Stadium playing surface puts forward a strong case for attracting quality fixtures in the future.
Bringing the Socceroos back to Canberra for the first time since 2011 would be the ultimate goal.
"The most important thing about these games that are being held this month is that it shows Canberra's capacity for hosting top-class football," Reid said.
"I'm sure the ACT government would like to see a quality stadium like Canberra Stadium used more often for soccer.
"Socceroos games, Olympic qualifying games – people have been very impressed with Canberra Stadium as a spectator venue and a playing venue."
The Socceroos have played only a handful of games in Canberra. They suffered a shock 1-0 loss to Kuwait in an Asian Cup qualifier in 2009, before a near full-strength side easily accounted for minnows Malaysia 5-0 in a friendly in 2011.
With three games remaining at Canberra Stadium, Reid said crowd figures were on track to surpass pre-tournament expectations of between 42,000 and 50,000.
The China v North Korea game is on track for a crowd of 21,000 with 18,000 tickets sold as of Saturday night, with similar numbers tipped for Friday night's quarter-final.
Iraq will also play Palestine on Tuesday night.
Reid hopes the success of the Asian Cup leads to soccer having a statue erected at Canberra Stadium to join those already erected in honour of rugby league and union greats.
Raiders legends Mal Meninga and Laurie Daley both have statues, while Meninga and former Brumbies stars George Gregan and Stephen Larkham also have grandstands at the ground.
Reid nominated former Socceroos Ned Zelic, Carl Valeri and Harry Williams as possible candidates for a statue.
Zelic was capped 34 times by the national team from 1991-97, Valeri has made 52 appearances for his country and Williams was the first Indigenous player to represent the Socceroos and was a part of the squad at the 1974 World Cup.
"I think soccer has a bit of a claim to have ownership and profile at Canberra Stadium given the Olympic Games football competition, several Matildas games, a number of Socceroos games and of course the legacy from the Asian Cup," Reid said.
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"I'd certainly be having a conversation with the Chief Minister and the Sports Minister."
