The CARBIZ Sydney FC Primary Schools Cup has reached record numbers in 2026, with 61 school teams and more than 630 players taking part in this year’s tournament.
Held across two days on Tuesday 22 and Wednesday 23 September at Ador Ave Reserve and J Graham Field in Rockdale, the second edition of the tournament has grown significantly from its inaugural year, growing from 21 teams in 2025 to 61 teams participating in 2026.
The growth was particularly evident across the girls’ competitions, with 24 girls’ teams competing in 2026, up from just six teams in 2025.
The tournament brought together schools from across the region, with teams travelling from as far as the Illawarra and Central Coast to compete in four competitions across Stage 2 and Stage 3 Boys and Girls divisions.
More than 380 spectators attended across the two days, as students, teachers, families and school communities came together for a celebration of school football.
Congratulations to our school winners!
BOYS STAGE 2
Cup Winner – Sans Souci Public School
Cup Runner Up – St John Bosco College
Shield Winner – King Park Public School (Sky Blue)
Shield Runner Up – King Park Public School (Navy)
Plate Winner – Mater Dei Blakehurst Public School
Plate Runner Up – The Scots College Brighton Preparatory
Player of the Tournament – Ali Joma (Sans Souci Public School)
STAGE 3 BOYS
Cup Winner – St Patrick’s College Strathfield
Cup Runner Up – CBHS Lewisham
Shield Winner – King Park Public School
Shield Runner Up – Sans Souci Public School
Plate Winner – Waverley Junior School
Plate Runner Up – Kingsgrove Public School
Player of the Tournament – Aston Barilla (St Patrick’s College Strathfield)
STAGE 2 GIRLS
Cup Winner – Mater Dei Public School
Cup Runner Up – St Thomas More Catholic Primary School
Plate Winner – St Andrews Cathedral School
Plate Runner Up – Mount Annan Christian College
Player of the Tournament – Maddison Lopes (Mater Dei Public School)
STAGE 3 GIRLS
Cup Winner – Regina Coeli
Cup Runner Up – Mount Annan Christian College
Plate Winner – Banksia Road Public School
Plate Runner Up – Sans Souci Public School
Player of the Tournament – Elissa Makrigiannis (Regina Coeli)
GROWING THE GAME ACROSS NSW SCHOOLS
The CARBIZ Sydney FC Primary Schools Cup continues to strengthen Sydney FC’s relationships with schools across the Independent, NSW Public and Sydney Catholic Schools sectors, while providing students with the opportunity to experience competitive football in a tournament environment.
With more than 630 children taking part, the tournament provided opportunities for players, coaches, staff and families to engage with Sydney FC, while Academy staff, the Female Pathways Lead and Academy Programs Lead were also involved in scouting throughout the event.
The 2026 edition also introduced Most Valued Player awards, alongside professional tournament elements including corner flags, metal goals and team benches, helping elevate the experience for participating schools.
A NEW ERA WITH CARBIZ
The 2026 tournament marked the inaugural year of CARBIZ as the naming partner of the Sydney FC Primary Schools Cup, with the partnership helping take the professionalism and promotion of the tournament to another level.
The tournament also received strong positive feedback from participating schools, parents and the wider school football community, with demand for more opportunities of this kind continuing to grow.
Mitchell McAsey, Sydney FC’s Coach Development & Tournaments Officer was happy with the outcome of the event.
“For the second edition of the Carbiz Sydney FC Primary Schools Cup, our focus was on building on the strong foundations established in the inaugural tournament and creating an even bigger and more memorable experience for students and schools.”
“With more teams, more schools and an increased focus on the overall event experience, this year’s tournament has demonstrated the potential of the Carbiz Sydney FC Primary Schools Cup to become a significant event on the school football calendar. As we look towards future editions, we’re excited to continue growing the tournament, strengthening the football experience and creating even more opportunities for students to engage with Sydney FC.”
Following the significant growth across its first two editions, the CARBIZ Sydney FC Primary Schools Cup has the potential to expand into a broader tournament series, with opportunities for multiple stages and regional tournaments to be held across different locations throughout the year.
Schools have already indicated their appetite for more tournaments and high-level competitive opportunities for their students.
With participation continuing to grow and the girls’ competition expanding significantly, the CARBIZ Sydney FC Primary Schools Cup 2027 is set to build on the momentum of the past two years.
All players received free tickets to an A-League Men’s, or, A-League Women’s game, player of the tournament won a brand new Under Armour bag and the winners of the Cup finals received a trophy to take back to their school.
Keep an eye out for more details on these additional tournaments as EOIs go live!
If your school is interested in being involved in the 2027 editions of the Sydney FC Primary Schools Cup, please contact education@sydneyfc.com for more information.
BRING THE SKY BLUE ENERGY TO YOUR SCHOOL
Our Sky Blues in Schools program work with over 100 schools each year to bring the excitement of football to students Our accredited coaches deliver engaging football programs for all ages and abilities, helping students develop skills, confidence, teamwork and a love of the game.
With flexible sessions available before, during or after school from just $5 per student, there’s never been a better time to get involved.
