Football Queensland wishes to acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we gather, the Yuwibara people. We pay our respects to their Elders, past, present and emerging, and we extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

This year marks an exciting evolution for the Inter‑Conference Carnival, with an expanded four‑day schedule providing more meaningful match minutes, increased inter‑regional competition, and enhanced talent identification opportunities. The carnival continues to play a vital role in the regional FQ Academy pathway, offering many young players their first experience competing against teams from across the state and allowing our coaches and technical staff additional time to monitor and support player progression.

The FQ Academy remains the only pathway in Queensland recognised by Football Australia for selection to state and national representative teams. Events like this ensure that every talented player whether from Cairns, Hervey Bay, Mackay, Rockhampton, the Whitsundays, or Mt Isa has the opportunity to be seen and to develop within a high‑performance environment.

As always, we ask all participants and supporters to help us maintain a positive, safe and enjoyable environment. Please remember to support players respectfully encourage them, don’t coach from the sidelines, and never heckle, abuse, or intimidate any participant. This carnival is built around learning, development and enjoyment, and we thank everyone for playing their part in upholding these standards.

We extend our sincere thanks to Mackay Regional Council for their ongoing partnership and for welcoming the football community back to their vibrant region. We hope you take the opportunity to explore everything Mackay has to offer during your stay.