Craig Foster welcomes Australia’s transplant footballers into the football family
Former Socceroo and human rights advocate Craig Foster has welcomed the Transplant Australia Football Club into Australia’s football family, calling on football supporters across the country to get behind its players and the cause they represent.
Craig recently met members of the national squad as they prepared to compete at the 2026 Transplant Football World Cup in Frankfurt, Germany.
The team comprises of 15 footballers from across Australia, all of whom have received a life-saving organ or tissue transplant. This September, they will pull on the green and gold to compete against transplant teams from around the world.
For Craig, their journey represents much more than football.
“The Transplant Australia Football Club is an amazing story that everyone in football, sport and Australia should know about” he said.
During his time with the squad, Craig saw the familiar hallmarks of any national football team: determination, camaraderie and pride in representing Australia.
But behind every player is also an extraordinary story of illness, uncertainty, transplantation and recovery.
“They’re living through the game after receiving the gift of life, and now they’re able to express the love of football that we all share by playing for Australia on the global stage” Craig said.
“They’re a national team, and they’re part of our football family.”
Among the players preparing for Germany is Jake Maudsley, a 31-year-old student who received a kidney transplant in 2020.
Before the transplant, Jake’s health started to deteriorate to the point that regular everyday things became challenging. He had to cut back on how much he played football, he started losing weight due to intense nausea and not being able to eat and had very low energy levels.
“I didn’t understand how sick I really was before the transplant, how I felt just became normal.” said Jake.
On playing for TAFC, he said: “I feel like a part of myself has been regained and I am grateful to TAFC for helping me find my identity again.”
Jake finished by saying “It means a lot to have Craig on board. For us, his support helps take the incredible stories of transplant recipients to a much bigger audience, while honouring our donors and their families.”
”Ultimately, we want people to see that organ and tissue donation isn’t just about saving a life, it’s about giving someone the opportunity to live it.
Jake Maudsley
TAFC was established to create opportunities for transplant recipients to return to football, improve their health and connect with others who understand the transplant journey; while raising awareness of organ and tissue donation.
Around 2,000 Australians are currently on the waiting list for an organ transplant, with approximately 14,000 more people on dialysis for kidney failure who may benefit from a transplant.
While four in five Australians say they support organ and tissue donation, only 35% of eligible Australians are registered on the Australian Organ Donor Register.
Craig urged the Australian football community to rally behind the squad and use its collective influence to encourage more people to register and talk with their families.
”When we see them playing in the national colours, we know they’re part of our family and that we can actively support them.
My call to the Australian football community is simple: support this national team, learn about organ and tissue donation, and make your decision known.
Craig Foster
It takes around one minute to register as an organ and tissue donor. To find out more, visit donatelife.gov.au and, importantly, tell your family of your decision.
To follow the team’s journey and support their campaign through our socials.
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.
A huge thank you to the PFA for their incredible support in helping get our team to the World Cup. Transplant Australia also recognises the investment and support provided by the Australian Government through the Australian Sports Commission.
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