While the world’s greatest footballing nations face off on the global stage at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a parallel celebration of culture, survival, and profound unity is taking root in the Illawarra.

On Saturday, 27 June 2026, STARTTS (NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors) will host the 3rd annual Wollongong World Cup. Mirroring Refugee Week 2026’s national theme, “One Million Stories,” the tournament highlights the transformative power of sport to heal, empower, and unite local refugee and migrant communities.

Far more than just a sporting fixture, this tournament offers young people from refugee backgrounds a safe space to celebrate their identities and build a profound sense of belonging. Co-founded by local Karenni leader Francis Kayphoe and STARTTS, the event provides a positive, strengths-based platform for communities that have survived displacement.