TAFC’s World Cup Campaign: A Historic week in Frankfurt
Transplant Australia Football Club’s 2026 Transplant Football World Cup campaign has officially wrapped, after an unforgettable week in Frankfurt, Germany that saw both our Main Team and our first-ever Women’s National Team take to the pitch to represent Australia on the world stage.
About the Tournament
The Transplant Football World Cup, presented by Sanofi, brings together national teams made up entirely of transplant recipients to compete in 7-a-side football. Hosted by the World Transplant Games Federation in partnership with TransDia Sport Deutschland, the 2026 edition was held at FSV Frankfurt 1899’s facilities from 13-18 September — the second edition of the tournament, following the inaugural event in Cervia, Italy in 2024, which was won by Chile.
This year’s tournament marked a historic milestone: the first-ever Women’s Exhibition Event, opening the door for women transplant recipients to represent their countries on this stage for the first time. Teams were drawn into groups for a round-robin stage, with results determining progression into championship or placement brackets for the finals.
Our Main Team’s Campaign
TAFC’s Main Team was drawn into a tough group alongside hosts Germany, Italy, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and went on to play six matches across the week.
A tough start to the group stage gave way to a strong finish, with the team closing out their campaign on a three-match unbeaten run — including a statement win over tournament hosts Germany, and back-to-back 5-0 victories to close out the tournament in style. With a win against Romania, the team secured 9th place in the tournament.
Match | Opponent | Result | Goal Scorer(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
Group Game 1 | Wales | 2-1 Loss | A. Kelic |
Group Game 2 | Northern Ireland | 4-1 Loss | A. Kelic |
Group Game 3 | Italy | 3-3 Draw | A. Kelic, D. Waddelow (2) |
Group Game 4 | Germany | 2-1 Win | A. Kelic, N. De Bonis |
Semi-Final | United States of America | 5-0 Win | L. Wilson (3), L. Rose, O. Sinn |
Final | Romania | 5-0 Win | O. Sinn (3), L. Rose, J. Maudsley |
Across the campaign, Ante Kelic and Orlando Sinn led the way in front of goal with four goals apiece – Kelic finding the net in all four group matches, and Sinn’s hat-trick in the Final sealing a dominant finish to the tournament. Luke Wilson’s hat-trick in the Semi Final against the United States was another standout performance.
Our Women’s Team Makes History
Competing in the tournament’s first-ever Women’s Exhibition Event, our Women’s National Team wrote their own piece of TAFC history — simply by taking the field. Every player on the squad is a transplant recipient, and for several, this was their first time representing Australia in any sport.
While the results didn’t go our way on this occasion, the significance of the campaign goes well beyond the scoreline. As one of our players put it from her hospital bed in the lead-up to the tournament: against the odds, her dream of pulling on the green and gold came true. Being part of the inaugural Women’s Exhibition Event is a milestone in itself, and a foundation for TAFC’s women’s program to build on heading into future tournaments.
Match | Opponent | Result | Goal Scorer(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
Game 1 | Germany | 4-2 Loss | R. Lord, K. Clark |
Game 2 | United Team | 4-1 Loss | M. Brew |
Game 3 | Great Britain & Northern Ireland | 3-0 Loss | – |
More Than a Scoreline
For every player who took the field in Frankfurt, this tournament was never just about the result. Each one is a transplant recipient — someone who was given a second chance at life through the generosity of an organ or tissue donor, and who has used that gift to return to the sport they love and represent their country.
As one of our players said in the lead-up to the tournament, it’s a journey that’s taken some “from a hospital bed to representing Australia.” That’s the real story of this campaign: not just the wins and losses, but what it means to stand on a global stage as living proof of what’s possible after transplantation.
The tournament also shone a light on the ongoing need for more organ and tissue donors. With around 1,800 Australians currently on the transplant waiting list, every player’s story is a reminder of why registering as a donor matters, and the life-changing difference it can make.
Thank You
To every player, coach, and support staff member who made this campaign possible, thank you for representing Australia and the transplant community with such pride. And to our sponsors, donors, and supporters who helped get our teams to Frankfurt: this campaign wouldn’t have been possible without you.
To learn more about organ and tissue donation and how to register, visit donatelife.gov.au.
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