This beat the previous international record of 20–0 from October 2000 when Kuwait defeated Bhutan on 12 February 2000 in qualification for the 2000 AFC Asian Cup.

[note 1] The margin of defeat also beat the previous record in a FIFA World Cup qualifying match, the 19–0 result between Iran and Guam in Tabriz in November 2000.

Ten teams from the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) entered the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification tournament.

The venue was chosen by Soccer Australia in December 2000, with national coach Frank Farina citing the pitch quality as a key factor in the decision.

[5] With the qualifying tournament occurring during the European season, a number of clubs had appealed to FIFA to stop Australia from selecting European-based players.

In early April, after Coventry City player Mustapha Hadji was suspended, manager Gordon Strachan appealed for John Aloisi to be released or banned from national duty.

[8] Australian midfielder Con Boutsianis was in doubt until the week before the match as he faced a County Court of Victoria trial after being involved in an armed robbery in 1998.

Ultimately he was found guilty of theft, receiving a fine of A$20,000 and a two-year good behaviour bond; leaving him free to play.

[12][13] The scoring was opened in the third minute by midfielder Scott Chipperfield with a tap-in inside the six-yard box from a Damian Mori cross.

Kevin Muscat scored the fourth goal after 17 minutes from the penalty spot after Scott Chipperfield was brought down by Kilifi Uele.

Farina decided to make two changes in the 69th minute, substituting on David Zdrilic for Mori and Con Boutsianis, on his debut, for Steve Corica.

[14][15] At 0–20, the game became the highest scoring FIFA World Cup qualifying match, beating the 19–0 result between Iran and Guam in Tabriz in November 2000.

Assistant referees: Elise Doriri (Vanuatu) Teariki Goodwin (Cook Islands) Fourth official: Ronan Leaustic (Tahiti) Frank Farina described the win as "embarrassing" and called on the OFC to review the competition format.

"[20] Gordon Strachan, John Aloisi's manager at Coventry City condemned FIFA and the Australian federation for letting Australia select his striker.

[27][28] In the second stage of qualifying, Australia defeated New Zealand with an aggregate score of 6–1 to win a place in the CONMEBOL–OFC playoff against the fifth-placed South American team.