The European Championship and the Copa America have recently wrapped up. But another thrilling international tournament is about to kick off on Australian soil. The 28th World Medical Football Championships commence this Saturday, culminating with the Grand Final on July 27th. Doctors from around the globe will converge on the Sunshine Coast to compete for the 2024 title, with matches taking place at Maroochydore FC. This year, the 'Docceroos' will aim to put forward their best-ever performance in the finals.
The Docceroos are Australia's medical football team. (Image supplied)
In 2003, inspired by an advertisement in a medical publication promoting a football tournament in Barcelona, Dr. Alan Jones noticed Australia had no representation. Thus, the Docceroos were born. In less than six weeks, he assembled a squad of 14 players who, despite being soundly beaten, cherished the experience. Since then, the team has flourished.
Over two decades later, Australia proudly hosts the tournament for the second time, following its initial hosting on the Gold Coast in 2007.
Sixteen teams will vie for the ‘Ferran Morell Cup’, including reigning champions Ireland, who edged out Great Britain 1-0 in last year's final in Vienna, Austria. This year's edition will also feature a Masters 7-a-side competition and, for the first time in the competition's history, a women's tournament.
The World Medical Football Championships (WMFC) originated in the mid-1990s in Barcelona. It was founded by Dr. Ferran Morell, who aimed to unite doctors worldwide through football and mutual learning. Alongside the matches, there will be a concurrent medical conference focusing on sports medicine and the benefits of exercise.
Dr Morell introduced a unique rule to ensure sustained involvement among older doctors: each team must always have two players over 35 years old and two over 40 on the pitch at all times, identified by coloured armbands.
The Docceroos Masters team, who will compete for the Clemens Vogel Cup at the World Medical Football Championships. (Image supplied)
From its origins as a European competition, the championship has expanded this year to include teams from South Korea, Mexico, Costa Rica, Colombia, and the USA.
Leading the Docceroos is Dean Ugrinic, the current head coach at Canberra Croatia FC, with multiple Capital Football NPL premierships under his belt. Dr Jones revealed that a record number of over 120 players tried out this year for a chance to represent the team in green and gold, resulting in the selection of a final squad of 25 players. Additionally, a second team, named the Dockatoos, will also participate.
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The Dockatoos logo. (Image supplied)
In his professional capacity, Dr Jones runs 'The Skin Cancer Doctor', a network of highly trained skin cancer physicians who travel to rural towns in Queensland and New South Wales to provide essential treatment services.
"We currently visit over 60 towns and hope to expand to Victoria in the future," Dr Jones told Front Page Football.
The Docceroos are aiming to surpass their previous best performance in the finals, which was a fourth-place finish in 2016 and 2022.
"We've already sold over 750 tickets for the closing ceremony. It promises to be a fantastic event, and hopefully, the Docceroos can deliver a memorable performance!" Dr Jones added, eagerly anticipating the tournament's start.
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