AFS Shepparton Cup is back and set to draw thousands to Greater Shepparton

The Shepparton Cup is Australia’s largest weekend junior football tournament, held annually in the sporting and event capital of regional Australia. Greater Shepparton City Council is proud to once again support this major event, which will bring significant benefits and opportunities to the region.

Last year’s event was record breaking, with 313 teams from across Australia and New Zealand participating in the event. This year’s event is expected to be bigger and better with over 385 male and female teams taking the field and attracting over 4,000 players and around 10,000 visitors to Greater Shepparton.

Mayor, Councillor Shane Sali expressed his pride in Greater Shepparton for once again playing host to this major event.

“Greater Shepparton has had the pleasure of hosting the Cup for a number of years, and we are fortunate to have it back even bigger in 2025,” he said.

“To go from just over 300 teams to nearly 400 teams will see this event become the biggest weekend junior tournament in Australia.”

Council’s Parks, Sport and Recreation team plays a pivotal role in the tournament, assisting with event organisation, field and facility preparation, and ensuring a smooth experience for all participants.

The tournament will consist of group matches being played on Friday and Saturday, with finals to be held on Sunday.

Cr Sali acknowledged the positive impact the event will have on the region’s visitor economy, with thousands of participants arriving in the city this weekend.

“Local businesses are looking forward to welcoming visitors, with these types of events being the perfect occasion to support local jobs while keeping the visitor economy strong with an estimated economic impact of between $4 million to $5 million for the region,” he said.

“We welcome all junior players, their families, friends and supporters to our region, and wish them all the best throughout the competition. We encourage attendees to visit the region’s destination website, Shepp and GV, to discover everything they need to immerse themselves in the very best the region has to offer.”

AFS Director Rolando Navas said he and his team looked forward to coming to Greater Shepparton for this annual event.

"As the Director of Australian Football Skool, it’s a genuine pleasure working with the Greater Shepparton City Council. They provide exceptional facilities and a welcoming atmosphere for teams coming not just from all around Australia, but also from New Zealand. Their dedication makes the Shepparton Cup a truly international celebration of junior football,” he said.

Mr Navas said the event has continued to grow each year to be one of the signature events on the soccer calendar.

"This event has truly become the highlight of the junior football calendar across the country. We have teams from every state in Australia and even from New Zealand joining us this year, making it the biggest weekend of junior football we’ve ever had with 385 teams competing. It's an exciting and truly expansive event," he said.

"It’s also wonderful to see how the Shepparton Cup has grown into a generational tradition. With teams coming from all over the nation and New Zealand, we’re now seeing former players who started as kids returning as coaches, referees, or even bringing their own children to participate. It's become a family legacy that spans generations, and that’s something really special to us."

For further information, please call Council on 5832 9700 or email council@shepparton.vic.gov.au, and for tournament related enquiries please email registrations@footballskool.com.au.

Find out more about the Shepparton Cup.