They made worldwide headlines after being trapped in a cave, but Kanga Cup officials wanted to give the Wild Boar soccer side a chance to show what they've got on the field.
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It can be revealed Kanga Cup organisers invited the team to play in the biggest junior tournament in the southern hemisphere, which starts with an opening ceremony and matches on Sunday.
It was hoped the Thai soccer team would be a part of the celebrations almost exactly 12 months after the 12 players and their coach were trapped in the Tham Luang caves.
But the junior football team declined the invitation after receiving multiple offers from around the world to commemorate the anniversary.
"We reached out to the Thai team to broaden their opportunities but understand on the one-year anniversary of their rescue, there's other things for them to do to celebrate that event," said Capital Football boss Phil Brown.
"There were plenty of people who were looking to provide a nice experience for those players and we wish them the best of luck.
"It's really great to see that they've come out that ordeal and are still playing football."
Capital Football will host 324 teams from across the country, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and the Philippines in the Kanga Cup.
The tournament will be played across eight venues with nearly 1000 games in total.
The SinGok team from Seoul will make their twelfth appearance at the Kanga Cup, while a New Zealand team from Otago Boys High School return for their second consecutive year.
"The Kanga Cup is an important vehicle for sharing culture," Brown said. "We reach out to international teams to add to the prestige and interest in the tournament, and also add to the cultural exchange it brings.
"It's a great opportunity for players to share each other's culture and build friendships around the globe."
Capital Football have also been working with local indigenous representatives to help develop pathways for Ngunnawal people to participate in football outside the traditional club forms of the game.
The local indigenous community will field the their first-ever Kanga Cup side, the Koori Kangaroos, in the under-12s shield.
"This is a new opportunity for the Ngunnawal people to represent their indigenous country through sport," Brown said.
The week-long tournament will kick-off with an opening ceremony at John Dunmore Lang Place on Sunday. Organisers moved the ceremony from local grounds to the iconic location to add to the players' experience.
Teams will congregate on the banks of Lake Burley Griffin before the ceremony commences. The opening matches will then take place on the east and western lawns in front of Old Parliament House.