The 2025 edition of the Kanga Cup is looming large in the distance, and with a new full to capacity list of entries already, is promising to be a hugely popular and enjoyable week of fun, friendship, and football as has been the case for the past thirty years and more.

With 320+ entrants, someone needs to be the first to take the plunge and be number one on the eclectic mix of teams and clubs that will descend on Canberra in the second week of July and that honour belongs to Western NSW.

Western NSW Football Club are based in the central west region of NSW, the players come from the regional towns of Bathurst, Orange, Dubbo, Mudgee, Lithgow, Forbes, Cowra, Parkes and the smaller regional towns within the central west.

“The club prides itself on player development and getting exposure to a higher level of football for their junior players,” Juston Splithof, Team Manager of the Western NSW Football entrant commented.

“This is the team’s second time coming back, and we are returning because it’s a really great week, where you get to play against teams from all over Australia and the kids love it. We entered the Kanga Cup because it is such a great week of football and parents, coaches and players all have a great time being a part of the Kanga Cup.”

The Kanga Cup is about the football, of course it is, but it’s also about a lot more than that. Teams bond over their experience of playing in the national capital, forging bonds and memories that last a lifetime.

And Splithof recognises the importance of these kinds of educational experiences for the Western NSW players who will represent the club with pride and passion across the fields of Canberra.

“We hope the kids have a great time playing the game they love and hope they make some new football friends while competing,” Splithof said. “We will most likely organise a team bonding event that parents and players will do together, something like go karting, visiting the zoo or War memorial, As well as a team dinner!

“It’s such a unique tournament that, that is run so well, from the 1000’s colourful jumpers and beanie’s all the players get around in throughout the week, to some very entertaining games of youth football, it has it all and most importantly the players have a lot of fun, and it will be the top of their conversations for weeks on end before and after the tournament.”

The 2025 Kanga Cup will take place from Monday 14 July to Friday 18 July in Canberra, ACT.

Kanga Cup. Fun. Friendship. Football.