The Transplant Australia Football Club came together in Sydney for a two-day national training camp, marking a major milestone on the road to the 2026 Transplant Football World Cup in Frankfurt, and a fitting way to kick off Donate Life Week.
Over two days, the squad trained together as a full national team ahead of September’s tournament, fine-tuning their preparation on the pitch. But the camp was about far more than football.
In a moving moment for players and their families, each member of the squad was presented with their official Australian jersey and a certificate marking their selection to represent the country at the Transplant Football World Cup. For the players, it was a tangible symbol of the second chance at life made possible by their donor, and the journey back to the sport they love.
The camp culminated in an exhibition match against the Docceroos Masters and Medtildas, Australia’s national medical football teams made up of doctors and medical practitioners. TAFC ran out convincing 7-2 winners, with a result to be proud of.
Beyond the scoreline, the match was a celebration of everything Donate Life Week stands for, bringing together the medical professionals who dedicate their careers to saving lives, and the transplant recipients whose lives were saved, on the same field.
Former Socceroo Craig Foster and Francis Awaritefe, Chairman of the Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) and fellow former Socceroo, were on hand throughout the camp to support the team, and had the honour of presenting players with their national jerseys with Transplant Australia CEO Chris Thomas.
Craig later shared a heartfelt reflection on his time with the squad, describing it as one of the most powerful experiences of his football journey.
”"Every single player is the recipient of a life-saving organ — some received that gift at birth, others later in life, and many points in between. Someone gave them a second chance at life. That gift has allowed them to keep playing the game they love, and now they get to represent Australia while shining a light on the urgent need for more organ donors."
He noted that many players waited years for their transplant, and that Australia currently has around 1,800 people on the organ transplant waiting list, underscoring the urgent need for more donors.
His support, along with that of Francis Awaritefe and the wider football community, helped ensure the camp’s message reached far beyond those at the ground, shining a national spotlight on organ and tissue donation during the week that matters most.
Every player who represented the green and gold this week is a living example of what organ and tissue donation makes possible. As the squad now turns its full attention to Frankfurt, this camp was a powerful reminder of why they play, not just to compete, but to honour their donors, inspire more Australians to register as donors, and show what life after transplant can look like.
To learn more about organ and tissue donation, visit donatelife.gov.au.
You can get behind the team by making a tax deductible donation by clicking the button below. Every contribution helps the players prepare and travel to Frankfurt.
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