The Gold Coast turned into a sea of red, white, and blue this September as the 51st Annual Croatian Soccer Tournament of Australia (Cro Tourney 2025) took over Carrara. For four days, football and festivity collided in a way only Cro Tourney can. With 55 teams battling across five divisions and thousands of fans packing the grounds, the Gold Coast Knights delivered one of the most memorable tournaments in the competition’s history.
Five decades on, still going strong
Born out of a “trial” event in 1974, it’s the oldest national soccer competition for an ethnic community in Australia. Today, it’s also the biggest: run by the Croatian Soccer Association of Australia, the tournament rotates between Croatian-backed clubs across the country and regularly draws 50 to 60 teams, from veterans and juniors to women’s and men’s sides.
John Marenjak Photography
The numbers are staggering. The CSAA now represents 27 member clubs, more than 300 teams, and some 4,000 players, with an estimated 10,000 members nationwide. Every year, the event injects around $4 million into the local host economy. This year’s edition — the fifth time the Gold Coast has hosted, and the first since 2018 — added another chapter to that legacy, with an international guest side in FC Croatia Munich joining the fold.
On the sidelines
Cro Tourney has always been about more than just football. It celebrates the best of Croatian heritage, and this year’s off-field program proved as busy as the fixture list.
The Hall of Fame and Opening Ceremony on Thursday gave long-serving members of the Croatian football community their moment in the spotlight. Straight after, Prva Liga provided the soundtrack, the beloved band whose performances have become synonymous with the tourney thus far. Friday belonged to the women, with the elegant Spring Soirée luncheon drawing a full house, followed by a seafood dinner and music from Steven Tivanovac.
John Marenjak Photography
But it was Friday night that captured the Gold Coast’s party spirit. The Croatian Beach Party at Cali Beach Club sold out with 1,200 tickets, packing one of Australia’s premier venues. DJ KT kept the crowd moving to a mix of Croatian classics and dancefloor anthems, creating a uniquely Croatian-Australian party that won’t soon be forgotten.
John Marenjak Photography
Saturday’s Heritage Night swung the pendulum back to tradition, with Sto Na Sat providing the soundtrack as folkloric groups from Brisbane, Sydney, and the Gold Coast filled the stage. And on Sunday, after the trophies were lifted, thousands stayed on for the Sunday Session, where Prva Liga played for four hours straight, fueling kolo after kolo as the sun set on another standout tournament.
Football at the heart
For all the parties, the heartbeat of Cro Tourney is still football — and 2025 didn’t disappoint. Across 108 matches on seven fields, the standard was fierce.
John Marenjak Photography
The Veterans Final opened the last day with high drama, as Gospic Bears clinched their third straight crown by beating Melbourne Knights 6-5 on penalties. The Masters Final also went the distance, Strathmore breaking through for their first title in a shootout win over Brisbane Knights.
John Marenjak Photography
In the Women’s Final, the Gold Coast Knights turned on the style. Up 3-0 at half-time against St Albans, they ran riot in the second half to finish 6-0 and lift the trophy on home soil.
A tense Men’s Division 2 Final followed, with young striker Calum De Snoo delivering the decisive goal in a 1-0 victory for the Knights.
The grand finale
By the time the Men’s Division 1 Final rolled around, the stage was set for a classic. Hosts Gold Coast Knights faced Sydney United in front of 1,500 fans, and the game lived up to the billing. Locked at 0-0 through 90 minutes, the championship came down to penalties.
With the shootout tied at 4-4, Jordan Bekavac buried the winner, sending the home crowd into delirium. Supporters stormed the pitch, flares lit up the sky, and kolo circles broke out across the ground.
Gold Coast Knights F.C.
For the Knights, it was a perfect finish: five wins, 32 goals scored, none conceded, and three trophies lifted across five divisions. Pure dominance.
A landmark weekend
Cro Tourney 2025 proved once again why this event is the jewel of Australia’s Croatian community. It’s football, yes — but also food, music, folklore, friendship, and pride rolled into one weekend.
John Marenjak Photography
From the Bears’ penalty heroics to the Knights’ clean sweep, from Cali Beach’s rooftop party to Prva Liga’s marathon Sunday set, the Gold Coast delivered a tournament worthy of its 51-year legacy.
John Marenjak Photography
“Once again, the Gold Coast Knights’ and the Gold Coast Croatian Sports Centre’s Croatian community put on a great event for our entire Australia-wide Savez community. Across all our metrics, I’m delighted, and very proud, that this year’s tournament ‘marginally’ even exceeded last year’s memorable tournament hosted by St Albans Dinamo.
The importance of our tournament today from a Croatian social and cultural perspective is widely recognised, however the future of our tournament remains dependent on the ongoing survival and vibrancy of all our 27 member soccer clubs, who today remain just as important as they ever have been. Not only to our Croatian community, but also to football in Australia.
To date, our member clubs have produced over 50 Socceroos (which include Mark Viduka and Josip Skoko, who have captained Australia) as well as 3 Croatian Internationals (Josip Šimunić, Anthony Šerić and Joe Didulica). Given that the current Australian Men’s National Team is coached by former Sydney United legend Tony Popović, and includes players such as Noah Botić, Nicolas Milanović, and Anthony Kalik – who all spent important developmental years at one of our Savez member clubs – this highlights that our clubs today are continuing to initially attract, and then just as importantly develop, future international players for Australia,” said Jure Dragović, CSAA President.
One thing is clear: Cro Tourney isn’t slowing down. It remains the beating heart of Croatian football in Australia and a reminder of what can happen when sport and culture come together.
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