Sport

Gallery | Shepparton Nations Cup starts with a hiss and a roar

By Liam Nash

Jan 12, 2026

Nepal's Suman Lama skips past Italy's Rocco Papalia during his side’s win. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

Shepparton Nations Cup has barely unpacked its bags, but it’s already throwing up proverbial pyro displays, upsets and a whole lot of bragging rights.

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The 10-team, 200-plus player tournament exploded to life at McEwen Reserve on Thursday night as Iraq sealed an at the death 1-0 win over Turkiye in the opener in front of more than 500 spectators.

Action carried on throughout the weekend as new entrants North Macedonia and Kuwait got off the mark - both to no avail - as boatloads of goals, skills and thrills lit up the pitches during the evenings.

Two games per night will continue this week before the tournament’s finals series commences on January 19th.

News photographer Rechelle Zammit roamed the sidelines on Saturday to snap Italy versus Nepal, which the latter won 1-0.