By James Wilkinson

The 2010 FIFA World Cup is set to be one of next year’s most exciting events and with Australia having qualified, thousands of Aussies are set to visit South Africa and support the Socceroos on their path to glory.

Qantas has painted a 747 in Socceroos colours

The World Cup is also attracting significant interest from incentive planners in Australia, as companies look to make the most of the Socceroos appearance at the sport’s pinnacle event – particularly those that sponsor the national team.

One company showing support for the national team is major sponsor Qantas, which recently unveiled a specially painted Boeing 747-400 that features a good luck message for the team.

Qantas CEO Alan Joyce said the new Qantas Socceroos aircraft shows the company’s support for the Socceroos in the lead up to the World Cup next year.

“Qantas is the team’s number one fan and this new painted aircraft, ‘Qantas Socceroos – We’re With You All The Way,’ highlights our support as they prepare for South Africa next year,” Joyce said.

“This aircraft will be flying across Australia and around the globe, showing the support that Australia has for its football team (and) this Boeing 747-400 will carry the team to the World Cup next year and we will be making sure the team arrive in South Africa rested and ready to take on their opponents.”

Football Federation Australia CEO Ben Buckley added: “We’re very excited and appreciative of Qantas’ support for the Socceroos and football in general.

“This aircraft shows that a picture paints a thousand words, and will make sure the Qantas Socceroos and Australian football are noticed around the world,” he said.

Qantas has supported football in Australia for more than 10 years, has been naming rights sponsor of the Qantas Socceroos and all men’s national teams since 2004 and has committed to the team through to March 2012.