Australia’s top para footballers are set to converge on Canberra this September as the nation’s capital hosts the 20th edition of the National Para Football Championships. 

From 11-14 September 2024, the Australian Institute of Sport will be the venue for this prestigious event, which takes on added significance this year. Players will be keen to impress the CommBank ParaMatildas and CommBank Pararoos’ coaching staff as they prepare to select squads for the 2024 IFCPF World Cup, set for November in Salou, Spain. 

The tournament will feature teams from six Member Federations: Football NSW, Northern NSW Football, Football Queensland, Football South Australia, Football Victoria, and Football West. This year, Northern NSW Football will be participating for the first time. The competition will see both male and female athletes showcasing their talents. 

The National Para Football Championships have long been a cornerstone of talent identification for Australia’s para football pathway, having launched the careers of several prominent CommBank Parararoos, including Raff Bacon, Jeremy Boyce, Luc Launder, Taj Lynch and Ben Sutton. 

Football Australia CEO, James Johnson, spoke about the importance of the National Para Football Championships. 

“The National Para Football Championships are crucial to Football Australia’s mission to make football accessible and inclusive for everyone,” said Johnson. 

“Following the success of the Para Asian Cup in Melbourne last year and the outstanding performances of our CommBank Pararoos and CommBank ParaMatildas, this tournament represents a key step in building upon those achievements and advancing Australian para football,” Johnson concluded. 

CommBank Pararoos Head Coach, Kai Lammert, stated the importance of the Championships in identifying the next generation of national team stars. 

“These Championships are vital to the player pathway, offering Kelly [Stirton, CommBank ParaMatildas Head Coach] and me the opportunity to scout and identify new talent for our domestic training camps and major tournaments,” Lammert said. 

“We greatly appreciate the extensive efforts by the Member Federations in preparing their players for this event. Representing your state and territory alongside your teammates is a truly special experience.” 

“With the World Cup just around the corner, these matches will give players from across the country the platform to make their mark and vie for a spot on the plane to Spain in November,” Lammert concluded. 

National Para Football Championships 2024 
Date: 11-14 September, 2024 
Where: Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra 
This is a free event to attend with no ticket required