Shepparton Nations Cup winners join Victorian soccer funding push

Alongside this significant community outreach over the past five years, the club has produced competitive teams on the field - with the Afghanistan men’s team having been crowned Nation's Cup winners back in 2025.

The all-conquering side came agonisingly close to retaining its championship back in January too, finishing the tournament as runners-up to Turkiye, who prevailed after a nail-biting penalty shoot-out following on from a 2-2 stalemate in normal time.

Through community-led matches, tournaments, and events, the club has created safe and inclusive spaces for young people from Afghan and broader CALD backgrounds.

However, like many clubs across the state currently, the Afghan Youth Association is facing what a representative describes as “growing challenges”, as it struggles to keep up with “increasing demand”.

This reflects the broader trends, with participation in the sport having increased by 57 per cent since 2022 in Victoria.

In total, 400,000 participants are estimated to have played the sport in the last four years across Victoria, with approximately 22,500 expected to follow suit in the upcoming decade.

“A major issue is limited funding, which directly mirrors the concerns raised in the petition around the need for greater investment in grassroots facilities,” club representative Qader Karimi said.

“In Shepparton, clubs are dealing with rising costs for ground hire, equipment, uniforms, and competition fees, while many players, especially from newly arrived or low-income families are unable or struggling to afford registration.

“This creates real barriers to participation and places pressure on clubs to either subsidise costs or reduce opportunities.

“At the same time, access to quality pitches, lighting, and appropriate resources remains limited, making it difficult to expand programs.”

In a bid to combat these issues, which are being experienced by clubs across the region, Football Victoria (FV) recently launched its Level the Playing Field campaign which calls on the Government to commit new investment and resources, alongside re-establishing a World Game Facilities Fund.

After a petition for increased funding from the Government received over 6,000 signatures, a representative commented on the importance of the Afghan Youth Association to many community members in the Goulburn Valley.

“Many participants who initially felt isolated have developed confidence, built friendships, and strengthened their sense of identity within the Shepparton community,” Karimi said.

“The team’s involvement in the 2025–2026 tournaments demonstrated how sport can create a powerful sense of belonging for both newly arrived and long‑established Afghan community members.

“Many players first connected with soccer through informal local games or community‑led initiatives such as those run by the GV Afghan Youth Association.”

Now, the Afghan Youth Association is calling on the Government to take notice of the Level the Playing Field campaign as it looks ahead to the future.

“Families, supporters, and members of the broader Shepparton community turned out in large numbers, transforming each match into a celebration of culture, resilience, and unity,” Karimi said.

“As highlighted in the petition and Football Victoria’s long-term strategy, increased funding is essential.

“For Shepparton, this would mean improved facilities, reduced participation costs, and expanded inclusive programs, ensuring that local clubs can continue to meet growing demand while strengthening community connection and cohesion.”

You can sign the Petition Funding for Football Victoria (Legislative Assembly Petition: #202606) on the Parliament of Victoria website here.