Venue for 2025 Asia Pacific Youth Touch Cup Confirmed as Kayo Stadium, Redcliffe in Queensland

Touch Football Australia (TFA), in conjunction with the Federation of International Touch (FIT), is pleased to announce the return of the Asia Pacific Youth Touch Cup (APYTC), taking place from May 15 to 17, 2025 and to be hosted at Kayo Stadium, Redcliffe in the City of Moreton Bay in Queensland.

Launched in 2023, the APYTC returns to the Touch Football calendar next year showcasing the best emerging youth talent on the international stage, with teams competing from across the South Pacific region including but not limited to Australia, Cook Islands, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Samoa, and Tonga.

The event will be the first international competition since the successful FIT World Cup in Nottingham, England in July this year. This was dominated by Australia who were crowned World Champions after winning all bar one of thirteen divisions, and the Athelite Australian Emus will be expected to repeat their successes in the Sunshine State in May – with the APYTC to host six divisions across Boys, Girls, and Mixed 18s and 20s.

TFA General Manager of Performance, Brad Mitchell embraced the international event’s return, and the opportunity presented to Australia’s emerging talent.

“The return of the APYTC is fantastic for the continued development of the international game and I’d like to thank FIT for choosing us as hosts once again. Not only is it important for our talented youth players to have the chance to represent their country, but it is also vital for the emerging talent in Asia and the South Pacific region to have these opportunities too,” Mitchell said.

“We had several players from the inaugural event go on to claim World Cup honours in July which is a great testament to our pathway. We're really looking forward to taking an international series to Redcliffe and we are grateful to City of Moreton Bay, the Dolphins, and Redcliffe District RLFC for allowing us to access such first-class facilities for next year’s event.”

The inaugural APYTC in 2023 saw Australia sweep the series with wins in all six divisions to be crowned Champion Nation – one against the Philippines and five against New Zealand – with the green and gold’s Trans-Tasman rivalry expected to be reignited at next year’s event in Queensland.

City of Moreton Bay Mayor, Peter Flannery said the APYTC offered the next generation of athletes an exciting opportunity to compete in the spotlight at Kayo Stadium, home of the Dolphins in the National Rugby League.

“City of Moreton Bay’s community enjoys an active lifestyle supported by our world-class sporting facilities which also make the city the perfect destination for high-profile competitions such as the APYTC,” Mayor Flannery said.

“I am proud that Redcliffe will host competitors from across the South Pacific in a thrilling international competition and wish the upcoming athletes the best of luck.”

The APYTC is part of an expanding calendar of international competition and will be the first of at least four events in 2025, with the Atlantic Youth Touch Cup (AYTC) taking place in Limerick in Ireland, followed by European Open’s and Senior’s events in August. There is also a planned return of Open’s and Senior’s competition to Asia, with further details expected to be announced in the New Year.

FIT Chair, Peter Topp commented on the expanding international calendar for Touch Football and the return of the APYTC.

“After a hugely successful World Cup, we are keen to keep the momentum going, enabling Touch-playing nations across the globe to be able to access meaningful competition every year. In 2025, the highest ranked events will be aimed at younger players with nations able to access two first-class events in the Asia Pacific and Atlantic Youth Touch Cups,” Topp said.

“As the sport continues to grow across the world, we need to ensure we can continue to move forward with our international events offer. Planning has already started for the next World Cup, even though it is three to four years away; and we have already announced early plans for the European Championships and Asia Pacific Cup in 2026.”

The Asia Pacific Youth Touch Cup is proudly supported by City of Moreton Bay.