The fourth stage of World Cup qualifying got underway in Tashkent on Wednesday (early this morning Sydney time), and the FFA’s decision to spend about $1 million on chartering a plane to fly the squad in and out of Central Asia raised eyebrows in some quarters, but not at headquarters.

A year ago, the FFA reported an $11 million loss - not least because of the costs associated with the Socceroos’ ultimately disappointing Asian Cup appearance. But while the national team costs money, it can also generate big money, and when the new accounts are released next month it’s likely the FFA will report a small profit thanks to a host of money-spinning home games. Those matches will continue at a frenetic pace during the next year and, with the Socceroos’ reputation as a financial "rainmaker" re-established, the FFA remains committed to ensuring the team is given every chance of success.

Buckley insists spending money on expenses such as charter flights, five-star hotels, coaching and support staff is not a luxury, but a necessity, if the Socceroos are to compete in Asia.

"We are continuing to back it, and you have to back it if you want to compete," said Buckley, who is with the team in Tashkent. "You have to provide the right level of support. This is an ultra-, ultra-competitive environment we live in. Teams like Japan, Korea, the west Asian teams, they all invest huge amounts in their teams, and that’s the environment we live in.

"They don’t scrimp, and we can’t afford to, particularly with the logistics of moving players from one end of the world to the other. For instance, to get from Europe to Tashkent on commercial airlines would almost be a two-day trip. To be able to charter a flight means we get here in six or seven hours, and get the team well prepared for the game. It’s a substantial investment we’re making, but it’s worth it. In fact, not only do we need to match what the other teams are doing, we have to try and do things even better."

The match in Tashkent marks the start of the business end of the World Cup campaign and, depending on results, the Socceroos will play a minimum of eight and a maximum of 12 qualifiers before the end of next year. Australia also kick off the 2011 Asian Cup qualifying campaign in January, while the FFA is also planning a handful of high-profile friendly matches, including some on home soil.

While the public has so far embraced the move into Asia - home crowds for the Socceroos have averaged more than 55,000 over the past two years - sluggish ticket sales for next month’s World Cup qualifier against Qatar in Brisbane may signal the love affair is waning.

"Obviously, you have to be mindful of that, but the calendar is virtually dictated to us now and we don’t have a lot of say. Whether it’s World Cup qualifiers or Asian Cup qualifiers, the next three years are pretty much determined," Buckley said. "But I don’t see that as a problem. For the national team there’s real benefits to playing seven to 10 home matches a year. That frequency builds up a genuine following on a regular basis, and if we’re going to be successful in marketing the team to the public, we need that number of games."

The Socceroos don’t just generate money, they also generate awareness, and after a slow start to the A-League season at the turnstiles, Buckley believes there will now be a flow-on effect from a busy World Cup campaign.

"At a time when the NRL and AFL seasons are coming to a close, the timing of this campaign is beneficial for us," he said. "The Socceroos build awareness of the game right across the board. Directly, and indirectly, it definitely helps us with the promotion of the A-League."