2002 - The tournament was first played in 2002 with 11 nations competing in Melbourne. Ireland defeated Papua New Guinea in the final. The other teams were New Zealand, Denmark, USA, Great Britain, Samoa, Nauru, Canada, Japan, South Africa. Click on the logo at left to access stories and images (note that the first Cup pre-dates World Footy News so we provide a single summary story here).

2005 - The event returned in 2005, again to Melbourne and also the regional town of Wangaratta. 12 countries were expected with Spain the fresh faces, but funding and player availability saw Denmark and Nauru as late withdrawals, reducing the total to 10. Papua New Guinea again made the final, but went down to New Zealand. Click on the logo at left to access stories, images and video.

2008 - The third Cup was held in Melbourne and Warrnambool in Australia in 2008, to coincide with the 150th anniversary of what is widely recognised as the first game of Australian Football (though the roots of this and all codes of football go back much further). 16 teams attended, with Papua New Guinea finally winning the Cup, defeating New Zealand in the Grand Final at the MCG. Click on the logo at left for all the details.

2011 - The fourth Cup was held in Sydney and Melbourne in Australia in 2011, for the first the time including a women's division. 18 men's teams and 5 women's teams attended, with an opening day lightning competition to seed the men into Division 1 (top 12) and Division 2 (next 6). Ireland defeated Papua New Guinea in the Div 1 grand final at the MCG, becoming the first nation to win the men's competition twice. Fiji defeated France to win Div 2. The women's competition included an Australian indigenous and multicultural side although it was deliberately selected from mostly inexperienced players so as not to dominate. Click on the logo at left for all the details.

2014 - The fifth Cup was held in almost entirely in Melbourne with the exception of some country Victorian venues for the Community Round.  The 2011 record of 18 men's teams was equalled, with 7 women's teams topping the previous 5.  The opening men's lighting competition of 2011 was not used, causing a few anomalies in the draw and record margins, before separating into a Top 4, Division 1 and Division 2.  Ultimately we saw Papua New Guinea continue their incredible record of making every men's top grade Grand Final, coming from behind to defeat Ireland in a thriller at the MCG.  PNG equal Ireland on 2 championships.  Canada took out Division 2 and Sweden Division 3.  In the women's Canada and the US showed their depth entering 2 teams each, with Canada's top side defeating Ireland in the Grand Final at Punt Road Oval.

2017 - The sixth Cup was played in August almost entirely in Melbourne (there were some country Victorian venues for the Community Round) featured a schools round for the first time (matches held at Melbourne schools).  For the first time the Men's teams were split into 2 divisions from the start (10 Division 1 teams, 8 Division 2) whilst the Women's division had a record 8 entries.  Ultimately Papua New Guinea's men defeated New Zealand in the MCG grand final thriller by 1 point to claim their 3rd championship (outright leadership ahead of Ireland on 2 who were devastatingly knocked out of contention with an after-the-siren goal in their semi-final against NZ).  The Men's division 2 saw Croatia crush Germany whilst Ireland claimed their 2nd Women's title, smothering previous winners Canada at Etihad Stadium. The tournament was the debut for Men's Sri Lanka (any competition), Germany (IC) and Croatia (IC).  Pakistan, Great Britain and the European Crusaders made their IC Women's debuts (it being Pakistan's Women's debut in any competition), with Great Britain storming to 3rd.