After the most recent Asian qualifiers, Australia have slipped to third in their group with four matches to play, a position which would force them into a cut-throat play-off route to reach the 32-nation tournament.

Failure to make the World Cup would cost Football Australia (FA) millions of dollars in prize money, as well as potential sponsorship arrangements.

Australia received $12 million from FIFA simply by making the 2018 World Cup in Russia, with regular qualification for the global showpiece since the move to the Asian confederation an important revenue boost.

While confident it won't be an issue, FA chief executive James Johnson is adamant the governing body has the resources to cope with Australia missing the tournament for the first time since 2006.

Financial records for 2020-21 delivered at Tuesday's annual general meeting show FA made a net surplus of $11.8 million despite the impacts of the global COVID-19 pandemic.

"If we were not to qualify the game will be in a strong financial position so there's nothing to worry about," Johnson said.

"But I think we shouldn't be disheartened.

"At this point the Socceroos have lost one game in the year 2021 ... I think we've got every chance of going through directly and if we don't we will be playing in June in the playoff, which we're confident we can do as we did in the last qualifiers in 2018."

While a top-two spot in Group B would seal Australia's spot at Qatar 2022, a third-place finish would pit Graham Arnold's men against the third-placed team from the Asian confederation's other qualifying group, with the winner of that match to advance to an inter-confederation playoff in June - in another one-off fixture.

Johnson said the details of which confederation the Asian play-off winner would face and just where the match would be played is expected to be finalised by next week.

FA chairman Chris Nikou, who was re-elected to the position by the board after Tuesday's AGM, said 2022 would also be a key year in the preparations for Australia's co-hosting with New Zealand of the 2023 Women's World Cup.

"A lot of our thinking is around maximising the Women's World Cup, particularly the legacy piece," Nikou said.

"I'm sure we'll put on a wonderful tournament.

"I've got no doubt about that but what is it what is important is maximising the legacy for the whole of the country."

As well as Nikou's re-election, FA members ratified Leigh Russell's appointment as chair of FA's women's football council in Tuesday's AGM while directors Joseph Carozzi and Amy Duggan were elected unopposed to new terms in their roles.

Nikou also encouraged anyone with grievances to come forward to the independent complaint management process managed by Sport Integrity Australia, formed in the wake of allegations of abuse and harassment from former Matildas striker Lisa De Vanna in October.

"We were deeply concerned and distressed by Lisa De Vanna's allegations," Nikou told the meeting.

"Football should be a place of acceptance and inclusion. That must be our first goal.

"Our priority is a safe and supportive environment. It must be. It has to be."

Australian Associated Press