Rainbow Games - Football

Football at
Rainbow Games 2026

Saturday 31 October 2026

Football 5-a-side at Rainbow Games 2026

Football 5-a-side returns to Rainbow Games 2026 with fast-paced competition across multiple divisions. All identities and experience levels are welcome.

Register yourself and be teamed up, or bring your team and get on the pitch.​​​​​​​

HOW TO REGISTER:

Choose how you’re joining.

  • INDIVIDUAL: Register yourself and be teamed up with other players.
  • TEAM: Register your team. One team contact completes the team registration form, then receives a player registration link to send to the rest of the team. Each player uses that link to register, provide their details and pay their own registration and sport fees.

DELIVERED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

ABOUT FOOTBALL

VENUE

Hiwa Recreation Centre at the University of Auckland – a premium new state-of-the-art facility, located in the heart of Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland

DATES

Friday 16 October 2026

  • All registrations close. Late entries will not be accepted

Thursday 29 October

  • Registration + Opening Ceremony (evening)

Saturday 31 October

  • Football 5-a-side competition (pool play)

Sunday 1 November

  • Football 5-a-side competition (knockout)

  • Closing Event (evening)

REGISTRATION COSTS

Registration Fee (per person)​​​​​​​

Standard: $69 (from 16 April to 16 October 2026)

Your registration includes access to a full Rainbow Games experience:

  • Ticket to the Opening Ceremony (Thursday 29 October)
  • Ticket to the Closing Event (Sunday 1 November)
  • Access to the arts, culture, and social programme throughout the Games
  • Opportunity to compete for medals and represent your community with pride
  • Player accreditation pass 
  • Your fee includes a contribution to the Rangatahi Legacy Initiative, supporting future generations of LGBTQI+ youth in sport

In addition to the registration fee, players must pay a sport fee to participate in a sport of their choice.

Football 5-a-side Sport Fee
$20 per player


Instalment Payments now available!  

Pay in three instalments:

Start from $30 today. Pay the remaining balance across two further payments. Be fully paid by 16 October.

Enter as a team or individually, and we will do our best to put you into a team.

CATEGORIES

  • Open 
  • Women and Gender Diverse 

Open (Inclusive of all gender identities and expressions. Anyone can enter this division)

Women and gender diverse (Female-identifying). This category is intended for women, non-binary, trans and gender diverse participants who feel this is the right category for them.

GRADES (SKILL DIVISIONS)

  • Competitive

  • Social

*Draws may be merged at NRF’s discretion if entries are low

FAQS

MATCH FORMAT, DRAWS & SCHEDULE

OTHER (E.G. SPECTATOR INFORMATION, PARKING, FOOD/DRINK)