Touch of Class: International Touch Football Returns to Mudgee for the Asia Pacific Opens Touch Cup

International Touch Football will grace the fields of Mudgee for the first time in over a decade, with the 2026 Asia Pacific Opens Touch Cup (APOTC) set to take over Glen Willow Regional Sporting Complex across the Anzac Day long weekend.

Touch Football Australia (TFA), in conjunction with the Federation of International Touch (FIT), will welcome twenty-five teams from thirteen nations across the Asia Pacific region and beyond to Australian soil for the elite event’s launch. The event marks a significant milestone for the Central West region, with Mudgee last hosting international competition in 2014 for the Open Trans-Tasman Series between the world’s top two ranked nations, Australia and New Zealand, who will reignite their rivalry once again.

The 2026 APOTC blends elite competition with cultural exchange, building on the momentum of last year’s Asia Pacific Youth Touch Cup (APYTC), hosted in Redcliffe, Queensland. The tournament will feature the return of the Cook Islands, Samoa, Singapore, Tonga, and the Philippines, alongside emerging international nations including Greece, Lebanon, Sri Lanka, China, Chinese Taipei, and Hong Kong China, highlighting the continued global growth of Touch Football at the sport’s highest level.

Mudgee’s premier sporting venue, Glen Willow Regional Sporting Complex, provides a world-class setting for the event. With a stadium capacity of 10,000 and state-of-the-art facilities, the venue is well equipped to host four days of elite competition across Men’s, Women’s, and Mixed Open divisions, as teams compete for the title of Champion Nation.

The tournament will coincide with Anzac Day, with organisers working collaboratively with the local community and the Australian Defence Forces to take part in a commemorative parade and address in the town centre and at the stadium prior to featured matches between Australia and New Zealand.

TFA Chief Executive Officer, Marcus Ashcroft, said:

“We’re excited to introduce the APOTC as a premier event on our calendar, and we’re proud to bring international Touch Football back to Mudgee for the first time in over a decade.”

“This event will showcase the very best talent on the global stage and highlights the continued growth of the sport around the world. We look forward to reconnecting with our international friends and witnessing elite competition over the next four days.”

FIT Chair, Peter Topp, said:

“The APOTC is a fantastic opportunity to build on the success of last year’s Youth event, and we’re thrilled to see the return of several nations alongside new countries joining the action.

“On behalf of FIT, I’d like to thank TFA and Mid-Western Regional Council for making this event possible. We hope all visiting participants, families, friends, and supporters enjoy the elite Touch Football on display this weekend and all that Mudgee has to offer.”

Mayor of Mid-Western Regional Council, Des Kennedy, said:

“Council is proud to welcome the 2026 Asia Pacific Opens Touch Cup to the region.

“This is a fantastic event for our community, and we’re thrilled to see Glen Willow Regional Sporting Complex come alive with international competition.

“To host more than 500 players and officials from thirteen countries is a real testament to the quality of our facilities and our region’s reputation for delivering major events.

“We’re excited to showcase Mudgee on the international stage, with visitors experiencing not only world-class sport, but also our incredible food, wine, and hospitality whilst delivering strong benefits for our local economy.”

Event Details

The 2026 Asia Pacific Opens Touch Cup will be held at Glen Willow Regional Sporting Complex in Mudgee, New South Wales, from Thursday, 23 April to Sunday, 26 April 2026.

Entry is free and all spectators are welcome.

Fans can watch the event exclusively live and free in Australia on the BarTV website or app, or globally through the FIT YouTube channel or website.

The Asia Pacific Opens Touch Cup is proudly supported by Mid-Western Regional Council.