World Footy News

In 1991 Will McKenzie wrote to the AFL suggesting the staging of a World Cup.

When the IAFC was formed in 1995 one of its aims was to 'establish and promote an official World Cup of Australian Football.' At the time it was thought that 2008, being the 150th anniversary of the game, was the appropriate date.

However, in 1999 a proposal was received from the New Zealand Australian Football League (NZAFL), suggesting that the World Cup be brought forward to 2002. This was accepted by the Council and, following visits to many countries, Brian Clarke drafted a discussion paper and draft regulations for circulation to the various national bodies.

An approach was then made to the AFL, asking for their support in staging the event. The AFL agreed on the basis that the event was renamed the International Cup. An Organising Committee, chaired by Ed Biggs and including AFL and IAFC representatives, was then appointed.

From 14-23 August 2002 the inaugural Australian Football International Cup was staged in Melbourne, Australia. The following 11 nations competed - South Africa, the USA, Canada, England, Denmark, Ireland, Japan, Nauru, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Samoa. Ireland defeated PNG in the final.

The event was a great success and it demonstrated what could be achieved by both the IAFC and AFL working together. As the former General Manager of Game Development acknowledged in the 2002 AFL Annual Report: "The fact that such a competition and concept could be put together was a tribute to those who have led the International Australian Football Council."