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Tim Cahill says the reality that the Socceroos may fail to qualify for this year's World Cup should be a wake-up call for football in Australia.

Socceroos legend Tim Cahill says football in Australia has been given a wake-up call with the national team facing the prospect of missing a World Cup for the first time in over 20 years.

The Socceroos face a big ask against world No.22 Peru in a winner-takes-all play-off in Qatar on Tuesday morning (AEST) to reach a fifth straight World Cup finals.

Cahill, Australia's record appearance holder at World Cup finals, says the reality of the Socceroos missing out on a finals berth should be a shake-up to those in charge of the game.

"I just think people think that it's a given," Cahill told SBS News.

"I feel that we've been spoiled with success over the journey over the last four World Cup campaigns and what happens, when you do something great, you have to keep the consistency.

"Not only from a players perspective and choices and set-up but also from a performance and a technical aspect from an organisation.

"When we look at the whole organisation, we look at the league, we also look deep into the federation, there definitely are things that can be done to make things better and things to support national teams."

Despite the obstacle ahead for Graham Arnold's team in the more-fancied Peruvians, Cahill still believes the Socceroos can pull off an upset to reach this year's finals.

"Preparation now will come down to tactical," said Cahill, who is living in Qatar as an official ambassador of the World Cup's organising committee.

"You're playing Peru. You're not playing a game like you did (on Tuesday) where, yes, UAE were comfortable on the ball but tactically now against Peru it will be about our shape, it'll be about how we press and when we press.

"Holding to wait to hit on transition to affect the game.

"If we're not clinical, it could mean our ticket to a World Cup or not to a World Cup.

"It's a shock moment that it's just one game and it's not a given but we have the element now as a squad and as a staff to try and make another special moment in the history of Australian football."