Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has emphatically stated the Australian government is not considering a boycott of the World Cup, after earlier suggesting the tournament could be impacted as part of future diplomatic responses to the poisoning of a former Russian spy.
Two Russian diplomats accused of acting as foreign spies were instructed on Tuesday to leave Australia within seven days, as part of the global diplomatic response to the recent nerve agent attack on a double agent living in Britain, which Western nations have blamed on Russia.
In response to questioning earlier on Tuesday, Ms Bishop said a further escalation of diplomatic action was possible.
"There are a whole range of options of further actions that could be taken. The World Cup is one of the further actions," she said.
But in a tweet on Tuesday afternoon, Ms Bishop responded to media reports saying that the government was considering a boycott: "That is wrong - the government is not considering a boycott of the World Cup."
During an interview on the ABC's 7.30 program on Tuesday evening, she clarified her earlier remarks.
"The Australian government is not considering a boycott of the World Cup," Ms Bishop said.
"What I was referring to was the fact that the British Government, for example, has taken steps to announce that the Royal family for example will not be attending the World Cup."
A major British newspaper reported the Australian government could join the UK in a "state boycott" of the event, where no political leaders travel to Russia.
British Prime Minister Theresa May has announced no ministers or royal family members will attend official events, including the opening ceremony, at the tournament.
Iceland, which will compete for the first time at the global showpiece after its surprise qualification, has followed suit.
A report from London newspaper The Sun suggests Australia is one of a number of countries that are likely to join this action.
"Football Federation Australia respects the Australian government's responsibility to make decisions about diplomatic and international relations," an FFA spokesperson said.
"As things stand all qualifying teams, including the England team, will be taking part in this FIFA event and that continues to be our intention."
Ange Postecoglou's side needed 22 matches in 12 different countries to finally seal a place in Russia.
Now under Bert van Marwijk's tenure, the Socceroos are in action on Wednesday morning (AEDT) in a friendly match against Colombia in London.
Australia has long-running sanctions in place against Russia, but it did not prevent the Socceroos from attending last year's Confederations Cup.
