Kicking Goals for Good at Socktober 2026

More than 230 students from 23 Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese (CSPD) Primary and Secondary schools came together at Wanderers Fives in Rooty Hill on Monday 14 September for a day of football, faith and community as part of the 2026 Socktober Launch and Soccer Gala Day.

Socktober is Catholic Mission’s annual football-inspired initiative, using the world game to raise awareness and funds for children and communities experiencing poverty. This year, the campaign is supporting communities in Malawi, helping children access food and education, and giving them the chance to build a brighter future.

2026 Socktober Launch and Soccer Gala Day

The launch was made possible through a collaboration between CSPD, Catholic Mission and the Western Sydney Wanderers, using the shared power of football to bring students together and explore the realities of global poverty.

“Socktober brings together the power of sport, faith and education to inspire young people to become agents of change,” said Robyn Keisers, School Engagement Coordinator at Catholic Mission. “Through Socktober, students build empathy, deepen their understanding of global poverty and stand in solidarity with communities in Malawi.”

2026 Socktober Launch and Soccer Gala Day

Students heard from special guests Stephen Bali, State Member for Blacktown and Parliamentary Secretary for Planning and Public Spaces, and Dr Mark Smith, CSPD Executive General Manager - Mission, Leadership & Culture, who spoke about the importance of community and standing in solidarity with people experiencing disadvantage.

Students then took to the field for the Soccer Gala, with each school playing four games throughout the morning. While the focus was on the competition, the games also gave students a chance to experience football a little differently.

For the final five minutes of each match, students put aside their regular footballs and played with handmade ‘sockballs’, made from recycled materials.

2026 Socktober Launch and Soccer Gala Day

Swapping the familiar football for a sockball gave students a practical way to consider what it might be like for children who do not have equitable access to resources, including equipment and safe places to play sport.

Between games, students and staff could make their own sockballs and visit the Catholic Mission engagement stall to add prayers to a communal prayer wall, which soon filled with messages of hope for people and communities around the world.

2026 Socktober Launch and Soccer Gala Day

For Western Sydney Wanderers School Football Coordinator Luke Kolenko, the day highlighted how football can bring young people together while opening up conversations about experiences beyond their own.

“We hope that the event was an eye-opener for students as to just how lucky we are to have what we have here in Australia, and that the use of the sockball on the day gave them an insight into what children overseas experience on a daily basis,” said Luke.

There was also plenty of competitive spirit on the field, with St Luke’s Catholic College Marsden Park taking out the Primary competition and St Columba’s Catholic College Springwood claiming the Secondary title.

2026 Socktober Launch and Soccer Gala Day

Western Sydney Wanderers midfielder Steven Ugarkovic joined the celebrations at the end of the day, presenting the winning teams with their awards.

With Socktober activities continuing across CSPD schools, students will be able to keep raising awareness and funds for communities in Malawi, putting their faith into action, and standing in solidarity with children and communities around the world.