You see western Sydney's Sporting Rovers charge onto the field and break into a Freed From Desire chant after winning a Kanga Cup final. You see kids hugging their families and watching their medals shine in the sun. But what is it really about?
"Mate, look at the smiles on their dial," Tuggeranong United coach Aaron Jacobsen said after watching his side clinch the under 13 open shield final at Southwell Park on Friday.
"It speaks for itself, doesn't it? It's hard to contain them on the final day, [telling them] we're going to get there, you've just got to believe in yourselves. And of course, with five minutes to go, they're already itching to jump up and celebrate.
"But the biggest thing for us was: 'Hey, as soon as the game's over, let's go and respect the other team. Let's shake their hands and thank them for being part of it.'"
And so many have been a part of it. Thousands flocked to Southwell Park in Lyneham for the final day of the Kanga Cup, which still sits on top of the podium as the largest youth football tournament in the southern hemisphere.
Capital Football officials had registered 4444 players for this year's edition, with teams coming from across the country - and as far as Taiwan and Indonesia - for a tournament expected to generate $7.5 million in economic benefit to the ACT.
"It's such a great tournament. It can only encourage more outsiders to come and get here, because it's really well run and it's well worth it," Jacobsen said.
Capital Football chairwoman Sarah Baker-Goldsmith hopes, "for the little ones", the Kanga Cup could be "the start of a long career in football".
It might just be after Canberra United's A-League future was secured, with Australian Professional Leagues officials striking a deal with Australian Sports Group to take over the licence from Capital Football, who could no longer bear the cost of running the professional outfit.
The deal guarantees the future of Canberra United's A-League Women's team, while the new owners are committed to entering a men's team in 2028-29.
"It has been something that Capital Football has obviously been willing to do. But our core business is this. Our core business is Kanga Cup and running the competitions," Baker-Goldsmith said.
"Hopefully now, with Canberra United's future secure, we're in a position to make Kanga Cup even bigger and better next year.
"This event doesn't get off the ground without the incredible support of volunteers, the clubs who lend us their nets, their posts and the goals for us to be able to use, as well as man the fields, become venue managers, and all of the individual volunteers.
"We are always incredibly grateful to them for putting in their time. We couldn't do the event without the volunteers."
