Our Year 3 Football students were thrilled to be invited by Football Federation Australia to attend the first match of Round Three in the FIFA World Cup 2026™ qualifying campaign. As part of the event, they participated in the Little Legends Lap at Robina Stadium, Gold Coast. This was a fantastic opportunity for the students to experience the excitement firsthand, see their football heroes up close, and celebrate grassroots football in front of a large audience.
After waiting outside the stadium for an hour, the students were called in to begin their lap. They passed by the dugouts where substitutions take place, stopping a few times for photos. Once the lap was complete, they were just a few yards away from the Socceroos as they warmed up, especially close to the goalkeeper.
The Socceroos match, held on Thursday 5 September, ended in a frustrating 1-nil defeat to Bahrain. A late deflection off a Socceroos defender in the 89th minute gave Bahrain the win, despite limited chances for both sides throughout the game.
Despite the result, our students had an unforgettable evening, soaking in the atmosphere with 24,640 fans in attendance.
For any inquiries about Football and Futsal at Somerset College, please contact our Head of Football and Futsal, Maarten de Kruijf, at mdekruijf@somerset.qld.edu.au.
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