FTFA Takes on the Premier Invitational – Gold Coast 2026
Three teams. Three unforgettable days of football. One enormous step forward for First Touch Football Academy.
First Touch Football Academy travelled to the Gold Coast for the 2026 Premier Invitational ready to test ourselves against some of the strongest junior football academies in Australia.
For a first-year Academy, simply earning the opportunity to compete on this stage was something we were immensely proud of. But our players weren't there simply to participate. They were there to compete.
The Calm Before the Competition
Before the serious business began, the FTFA players, coaches and families came together for an Academy stroll along the Gold Coast esplanade to Surfers Paradise. It was a chance to enjoy the surroundings, bring the travelling group together and soak up the experience before attention turned to football.
A high-energy training game followed, sharpening the players up and setting the tone for what would become an unforgettable three days.
Then it was time for the Premier Invitational.
Match Day One – Making Our Mark
U8 – Earning a Place in the Premier Division
Our U8s were immediately handed a major challenge, drawn into a strong opening group that included eventual tournament champions Futboltec.
The boys responded brilliantly. Two victories put FTFA in a strong position before coming up against a polished Futboltec side. While that result didn't go our way, the performances and results across the day were enough to propel our U8s into the Premier Division.
For this young group to earn a place among the tournament's top teams at their first Premier Invitational was an outstanding achievement.
U10 – Results Don't Always Tell the Story
Our U10s demonstrated from the outset that they were capable of playing excellent football at this level. They were desperately unlucky to lose their opening two matches by identical 2–1 scorelines, with both games capable of going either way. Rather than allowing those results to define their day, the boys responded strongly and finished with a deserved victory.
It was a performance full of courage and a sign of what was to come.
U12 – Three From Three
Our U12s also found themselves in an extremely challenging group, including familiar rivals SDC. They couldn't have started much better. Three matches. Three victories. Among them was an incredible contest against SDC that will be remembered as one of the games of the tournament for FTFA.
The perfect opening day secured the U12s their place in the Premier Division, setting up another enormous day of football.
Match Day Two – Testing Ourselves Against the Best
U8 – Belonging at the Top Level
Premier Division football meant our U8s were now competing against some of the best teams at the tournament. After dropping their opening match, the response was exactly what we wanted to see. The boys bounced back with a hard-fought 4–2 victory before closing the day with a tense 1–1 draw.
Those results secured second place in their group and kept them firmly in contention heading into finals day.
U10 – Playing With Purpose
After showing enormous courage on the opening day, the U10s arrived for day two with purpose. A commanding 3–0 victory in their opening game was the perfect start. The boys then controlled and dominated large periods of their final two matches. Football can sometimes be unforgiving, though, and despite the quality of their performances, they had to settle for draws in both.
The results were still enough to secure second place in the group.
U12 – A Battle at the Top
The U12s continued their strong tournament with another victory to begin day two. Next came one of their biggest tests — a meeting with the high-scoring Sphere Academy. FTFA started superbly and took the lead, but against quality opposition the momentum eventually shifted and the final result didn't fall our way.
A draw in the final match left the boys agonisingly in third place on goal difference, setting up a finals campaign for positions 9–16.
Match Day Three – Finals Day
By the third consecutive day of tournament football, the physical demands were beginning to show. Unfortunately, illness and injuries also swept through parts of our travelling squads. It meant finals day would become as much a test of character as it was football ability.
U8 – 15th From 72
Playing for positions 9–16, our U8s entered finals day missing players and carrying injuries. They dug deep but couldn't find the result in their opening game, moving them into the playoffs for positions 13–16. Their next match perfectly captured the character of this team. Trailing 3–0, the boys refused to surrender.
They fought their way back to 3–2 and pushed desperately for the equaliser, only for time to run out on the comeback. The final match provided an opportunity to give our three younger players who had been playing up an extended run.
The boys finished the tournament exactly as we hoped they would — with a victory.
15th overall from 72 starting teams.
For our first appearance at the Premier Invitational, it was a formidable achievement.
U10 – Fighting to the Final Whistle
The U10s had a difficult start to finals day but showed the resilience that had characterised their entire tournament. They rebounded from a disappointing opening performance to fight out a draw in their second game, only to suffer the heartbreak of defeat in the resulting penalty shootout. Their final match was another incredibly close encounter, eventually falling 2–1.
The scorelines throughout the tournament demonstrated just how competitive this group was. More importantly, their football, courage and willingness to keep playing the FTFA way gave us plenty to be proud of.
U12 – 16th From 96
Few teams felt the impact of illness and injuries more heavily than our U12s.
Heading into finals day playing for positions 9–16, the squad was significantly depleted. After competing for three days against the tournament's strongest opposition, the loss of players eventually took its toll. But they continued to compete. They continued to fight. And they continued to represent FTFA with pride.
The U12s finished 16th overall from an incredible 96 starting teams.
For a first-year Academy competing at this level for the first time, it was a remarkable achievement.
More Than Results
The Premier Invitational gave us an opportunity to measure ourselves against some of the strongest football programs in the country in Australia's largest football tournament. The results showed that we can compete. But the biggest takeaway had nothing to do with a ladder.
Across all three teams, we saw effort, spirit, determination, selflessness and relentlessness. We saw players supporting teammates. We saw children battling through difficult moments. We saw teams respond to losses rather than allowing those losses to define them. And we saw our players represent the First Touch Football Academy badge in a way that made the entire Academy proud. For an Academy still in its first year, those moments mean everything.
From the Football Field to Sea World
After three intense days of competition, it was time to reward the players.
First Touch Football Academy treated the group to a team bonding day at Sea World — giving the players an opportunity to switch off from football, spend time together and celebrate what they had achieved. It was the perfect way to cap an unforgettable Gold Coast experience.
These trips are about developing footballers, but they are also about building friendships, creating memories and giving young players experiences that can stay with them for years to come.
Thank You to the People Who Made It Possible
An interstate tournament of this scale doesn't happen without an enormous amount of work and support behind the scenes. We would like to sincerely thank all of our sponsors, coaches, volunteers, bus drivers, parents, families and supporters who contributed to making our Premier Invitational campaign possible. From helping our teams get to the Gold Coast, to supporting the players throughout the tournament, every contribution played a part. Without that support, we simply could not provide these opportunities, compete at this level or walk away having achieved what we did.
To everyone who backed First Touch Football Academy — thank you.
Year One – And We're Just Getting Started
Our first Premier Invitational will always hold a special place in the story of First Touch Football Academy. We arrived as a first-year Academy ready to discover where we stood. We leave knowing we belong.
Our U8s finished 15th from 72 teams.
Our U12s finished 16th from 96 teams.
Our U10s demonstrated across three days that they could compete and play quality football against strong opposition.
But above every result, we leave proud of how our players represented themselves, their teammates, their families and our Academy.
This was another step in our journey. Next year, we want another one.
Gold Coast 2026 — unforgettable.
Gold Coast 2027 — we're coming back better.
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