Sport

Shepparton Nations Cup welcomes two new competitors as tournament nears kick-off

By Josh Huntly

Jan 6, 2026

All smiles from Willie Sauiluma (left) and Marcus Thomas with the return of the Shepparton Nations Cup on Thursday, January 8 at McEwen Reserve. Photo by Megan Fisher

It’s the world game for a reason, and Shepparton is about to show why.

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The third edition of the Shepparton Nations Cup will see more players, more teams, and more energy at McEwen Reserve as the football showcase kicks off on Thursday, January 8, with 10 nations vying for a $6,000 prize purse across two weeks of play.

But more importantly, it’s set to be another show of Shepparton’s love of the game and its proud multicultural side, according to organiser Abbas Al-Najar.

“We really want to show Shepparton how good it can get here for football and the multicultural community,” Al-Najar said.

“We have got almost 220 participating, and this year is one of the best we’ll have in terms of quality of players because we’re opening it a bit more to non-local players.

“We’re getting a lot of international quality players and high-end league players to come in, which is making it good.

“The quality of football this year is going to be very high, and it’s only going to get higher when the tournament grows.”

It will be wall-to-wall action from January 8-25, with the opening fixture between Iraq and Türkiye on Thursday evening at 8pm set to be a monumental tournament opener on McEwen Reserve’s main pitch.

The group games will then be held on the back pitches until finals begin on January 19, with the grand final on the 25th taking place at 7.30pm.

The tournament has also seen the addition of two new country’s - Kuwait and Macedonia have been added to the competition.

“It only gets bigger and bigger every year,” Al-Najar said.

“Compared to the first year, it’s doubled if not tripled in growth.

“We do have some prize money this year, which raises the stakes a bit higher.”

Australia faces reigning champions Afghanistan on Friday, January 9, while Italy and Nepal do battle in the first Saturday game in a curtain-raiser to the Congo vs Albania clash at 8pm.

Macedonia makes its debut against Iraq on Sunday, while Kuwait opens its campaign against Australia later that evening.

Shepparton Nations Cup squads

Albania: Rahman Kutrolli (coach), Tariq Kutrolli (team manager), Aiden Resul, Alex Kita, Alvin Resul, Andi Lako, Andi Sali, Arlind Nebiu, Branden Meka, Edmon Barolli, Erindi Hoxha, Erion Barolli, Ermal Marku, Ethan Alickolli, Gabriel Manelli, Michael Kita, Sabri Ibisi, Shaban Rizani, Zain Kutrolli, Thomas Raditsas, Alban Sherolli

Australia: William Geerling (coach), Callum Horseman (assistant coach), Mau Pouvi (team manager), Willie Sauiluma, Jaxan MacDonald, Aziz Shamri, Declan Kinnane, Joeldan Thorne, Gus Walta, Rohan Byrne, Mason Hamilton, Liam Mason (GK), Lewis Coyle, Jesse Singh, Ciaan Obrien, Riki Koyanagi, Trent Newbound, Angus Morgan, Yasin Karimi, Lachie Jobling, Will Jones, Caine Damien, Angus Cole, Xavier Black, Joshua Reid

Congo: Ahadi Lulerhe (coach), Alhajie Kamara (assistant coach), John Kashindi Mtambala (team manager), Yonas Niyigalula (GK), Tegra Kabala, Francois Bishikwabo, Mosi Omari, Michele Amos, Erike Njiginya Jonas, Aruna Asumani, Baraka Musemi, Fabrice Ebe, Jonathan Junior, Katenda Nkulu, Pasia John, Sharlè Karim, Steve Fidele, Joshua Nyindu, Emeka Ekwo, Asheri Benjamin, Moses Biemba, Jonathan Hassan, Bienfait Kagayo, Owen Sheppard, Jacques Safari

Macedonia: Chris Stojanovski (coach), Stefo Radevski (assistant coach), Donny Stojanovski (team manager), Dean Prinzi (GK), Johnny Davkovski, Troy Kennedy, Nathan Radevski, Hussam Hani, Jacob Davkovski, Donny Stojanovski, Johnny Radevski, Josh Dimit, Anthony Damchev, Harry Falk, Christian Hafner, Sebastian Trigila, Gabriel Stojanovski, Shannon Damchev, Jason Musci, Isaac Stojanovski, Mohamed Fatelawi, Jamie Damchev, Ifran Haveric, Jacob Dimit, Mohamed Sharif

Nepal: Bishal Kunwar (coach), Sundar Karki (team manager), Aashish Lama, Bikash Thapa, Bipin Thapa, Biprish Thapa, Buddha Tamang, Indra Katuwal, Jiyarat Shekh, Kiran Lama, Mikchhen Lama, Nischal Magar, Mishan Lama, Rajan Gurang, Rajesh Khadka, Rumesh Bartaula, Sagar Thapa, Samip Magar, Sandeep Poudel, Sonam Sherpa, Suk Bhattarai, Suman Lama, Tej Tamang, Tribenda Khatri

Iraq: Abo Fahed (coach), Ali Aleedany (team manager), Abbas Matoory, Abbas Algazaly, Abdul Tarsha (GK), Abdullah Farhood, Alvaro Bidawid (GK), Anmar Hussain, Asad Alsaedy, Dhiya Almugotir, Hassan Alhilfi, Hassan Taha, Hussein Alghazali, Mohammad Almussawi, Mustafa Al-Shejer (GK), Salawat Allafta, Talib Khirsany, Yassir Alghazaly, Fahed Alghazaly, Hussain Alsharifi, Yusef Al Shawaf

Kuwait: Haider Al Hamzah (coach), Eid Ghadban (team manager), Haider Al Hamzah, Razzak Al Hamzah, Omran Al Hamzah, Hussain Alhashoush, Rahman Alhashoush, Fadi Albadri, Fares Aber, Hussein Almoosawi, Nasir Khtaf, Ali Taha, Mahir Almugotir, Wael Bahedli, Faraj Algizzy, Eid Ghadban, Mohammad Farhood, Haider Alhussaini, Abdul Helal, Zulfiqar Alizada, Haqil Abdul, Arkan Khtaf

Afghanistan: Mohammad Haidari (coach), Mustafa Abbasi (team manager), Ali Naveed, Ali Jafari, Ali Sharifi, Alisina Alizada, Jawid Hussaini, Hassan Mohammadi, Farid Azizi, Khodabakhsh Karimi, Murtaza Gulzari, Noor Baqiri, Qader Karimi, Reza Baqiri, Sayed Fatemi, Iftikhar Saifu, Feda Aziz, Ezatullah Alizada, Imran Mohammadi, Mohammad Ahmadi, Hadi Dad, Mehdi Amini, Yahya Mohammadi, Mohammad Ali

Italy: Jose Rivera (coach), Nick Corbo (assistant coach), Antonio Mercuri, Benjamin Tartaglia, Brodie Pena, Caleb Enders, Daniel Scaffidi, Dante Mori, Dylan Cirillo, Gerald Corbo, Isaac Brooker, Jake Kalz, Jesse Brun, Joseph Sepe, Joshua Latorre, Lucca Pena, Marcus Thomas, Nathan Cirillo, Rocco Papalia, Zac Ferlauto, Luke Loverso

Türkiye: Korhan Gulec (coach), Ahmed Savran (assistant coach), Mehmet Sut (assistant coach), Mert Tetik (team manager), Ahmed Yavuzel, Ahmed Savran, Atay Ibrahim, Cihan Baser, Erkan Bayrakli, Fatih Ozdemir, Gokhan Tanrikulu, Hakan Yildiz, Ismet Uguz, Kaan Ozmen, Kerem Ozcagli, Khan Benice, Korhan Gulec, Murat Yavuzel, Mustafa Savran, Osman Ulu, Sercan Kullukcuoglu, Serkan Kullukcuoglu, Taner Tekin, Taylan Geylan, Yigit Kaymak, Mehmet Uysal

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