Australia has asserted itself again as the benchmark in the world of touch football, claiming world cup glory in England.

The week-long Federation of International Touch World Cup concluded with the Emus claiming gold medals in 12 of the 13 divisions.

The 12 gold medals allowed Australia to comfortably retain the world cup, last contested in Malaysia in 2019.

Australia played in every gold medal match, 11 of them against New Zealand while hosts England claimed silver against the Emus in the Women’s 27s and Women’s 35s deciders.

Australia swept the open categories, with the men’s taking down the Kiwis 9-6 while the women’s side claimed gold with a 6-2 triumph.

The mixed open gold medal match was arguably the game of the world cup, with Australia claiming a 4-3 win in a drop-off extra time to claim gold.

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Mixed open’s captain Tim Baartz described the gold medal win as an “immensely proud moment”, considering the side dealt with adversity over the week campaign.

“It was an incredible final, a game of massive momentum swings,” Baartz said after the final. 

“It wouldn’t be a tournament without a few surprises.

“We had everything — four or five dropping with illness, a few [hamstrings] gone — so incredibly proud of the group for the resilience they showed.”

New Zealand claimed their gold medal over the Emus in the men’s 40s with a narrow 4-3 triumph. 

Federation of International Touch World Cup gold medal matches

Men’s Open

Australia 9 defeated New Zealand 6

• Gold: Australia
• Silver: New Zealand
• Bronze: Lebanon

Women’s Open

Australia 6 defeated New Zealand 2

• Gold: Australia
• Silver: New Zealand
• Bronze: England

Mixed Open

Australia 8 defeated New Zealand 7

• Gold: Australia
• Silver: New Zealand
• Bronze: England

Women’s 27s

Australia 7 defeated England 1

• Gold: Australia
• Silver: England
• Bronze: South Africa

Men’s 30s

Australia 5 defeated New Zealand 4

• Gold: Australia
• Silver: New Zealand
• Bronze: England

Senior Mixed

Australia 10 defeated New Zealand 9

• Gold: Australia
• Silver: New Zealand
• Bronze: England

Men’s 35s

Australia 16 defeated New Zealand 3

• Gold: Australia
• Silver: New Zealand
• Bronze: South Africa

Women’s 35s

Australia 10 defeated England 2

• Gold: Australia
• Silver: England
• Bronze: South Africa

Women’s 40s

Australia 4 defeated New Zealand 1

• Gold: Australia
• Silver: New Zealand
• Bronze: England

Men’s 40s

New Zealand 4 defeated Australia 3

• Gold: New Zealand
• Silver: Australia
• Bronze: England

Men’s 45s

Australia 8 defeated New Zealand 2

• Gold: Australia
• Silver: New Zealand
• Bronze: France

Men’s 50s

Australia 8 defeated New Zealand 2

• Gold: Australia
• Silver: New Zealand
• Bronze: England

Men’s 55s

Australia 6 defeated New Zealand 4

• Gold: Australia
• Silver: New Zealand
• Bronze: England