FIFA 2026 World Cup: Kids from Mary MacKillop Catholic Primary School excited to watch Socceroos’ clash

Hundreds of excited kids will pack into the hall of their Ballajura school on Friday morning to cheer on the Socceroos in their crucial clash with Paraguay.

Students and staff from Mary MacKillop Catholic Community Primary School pleaded with principal Laurie Bechelli to be allowed to watch the game — the first 2026 World Cup match featuring Australia’s national team to air during a school day.

As well as being soccer-mad, the school has an extra connection with Australia’s squad.

Key defender Jacob Italiano is a former student, and his aunt, Lisa Italiano, still works there as an education assistant.

Sadly for his young fans, Italiano was injured during training and has been ruled out of the third and final group-stage match — which Australia needs to win or draw to guarantee progression to the next round.

But Mr Bechelli said the player’s absence would not dim students’ fervent support for the team.

Nearly 400 pupils, from Pre-primary to Year 6, will gather to watch the match live from San Francisco on a big screen from 10am.

“The kids are still really pumped up, they’re really excited,” he said. “Soccer is just so big here.”

Mr Bechelli said it had been easy to say yes when teachers and students asked if they could watch the match.

“Really, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” he said. “How often do you have this in your school, that one of your kids is on the world stage. It’s such a rare thing.”

Mr Bechelli said Italiano had followed his dreams to the pinnacle of his sport, making him an inspiring role model for students.

“They just look up to him and think ‘wow, if Jacob who came to Mary MacKillop can do this, then I can as well’,” he said.

Some other WA schools will also show students the game, including Dianella Heights Primary School, which urged pupils to come to class wearing green and gold or Socceroos-themed attire.

But staff at Woodvale Secondary College — former school of Socceroos defender Cameron Burgess — were told on Thursday to crack down on any students trying to watch the match on their devices during lessons.

In an email to staff, principal Lea Fairfoul-Hutcheon said she was aware of the “significant event occurring in a few venues on the other side of the world” featuring an alumnus, but reminded them a school’s “core business” was teaching and learning.

“While I appreciate that students may be attempting to watch games on their devices or listen to games through the earpods that they should not be wearing at school, it needs to be reinforced that this is not an appropriate use of learning time,” she wrote.

Victoria’s Education Minister and Deputy Premier Ben Carroll this week urged schools to let students watch the game, which falls on their final day of term at lunchtime.

WA Education Minister Sabine Winton said school leaders and teachers could make their own decisions on whether or not students should watch the match, “depending on what other curriculum-based activities the class is undertaking”.

Deputy Premier and Sport Minister Rita Saffioti said it would be a game that “stops the nation”.

“It would be great to see schools embrace the moment and give students the option to watch the game and cheer on our Socceroos, but of course only if it fits around their curriculum,” she said.

“It shouldn’t be compulsory, but it would be fantastic to see students getting behind the green and gold as the Socceroos take on Paraguay.”