The Cup wrapped up last Friday sending Germany home with a repeat win for the men and New Zealand fought off the Tongans for the women’s championship.

On the heels of its burgeoning success attracting 40 teams from Australia and overseas, event founder and organiser Heinrich Haussler said the interest abroad is growing.

Head of the Tongan women’s football, Adelaide Tuivailala, has committed to return with an under 20 women’s team and under 17 men’s team in 2015. 

“She has said she has made a four year plan to the next World Cup qualifiers, that she wants to come every year to the Mini World Cup with teams, so they can learn,” Haussler said.

While in Papua New Guinea for the 2015 World Cup qualifiers this month, Haussler said Tuivailala plans to lobby for the MWC with Oceanic teams from Samoa, Fiji, the Cook Islands and PNG.

The New Zealand women will return, and Haussler said they may be joined by a second team of countrywomen. 

“A team from Hillcrest High School in Hamilton, they have enquired. I’ve sent them an itinerary for next year, about what they can do, and they wish to come.” 

Germany will fly back to defend the men’s Cup, and more European voices have been heard. Haussler said he has received enquiries from Denmark and Holland.

With the debut of the Dust Jacket Cup, an inclusive event that featured four teams of players with disabilities from Brighter Access, a new avenue for the MWC has blossomed. 

Haussler said through the MWC guest speaker and soccer benefactor Kevin Milstein, a connection has been made with Juan Carlos Loyola, Victorian Special Olympics head football coach and founder of the Doveton Special Soccer School. 

Haussler said he has already spoken to Loyola and he envisions the Cup expanding for teams with disabilities. 

“We may need a second week or we need to run the Cup within the Cup,” he said.  

“For the first time, they felt like they were kids like any other kid that was over there, and that was the purpose of all of this.

“This is what the Cup does. It brings barriers down, it unites cultures and countries, and this Cup is much more than football.”