Australia wins IFAF Asia-Oceania Men’s Championship

Australia are the new IFAF Asia-Oceania men’s continental champions having beaten Japan 23-19 in the tournament’s gold medal game.

As winners of the Oceania and Asia competitions respectively, both Australia and Japan have qualified for the 2026 IFAF Flag Football World Championships to be played in Germany next summer. They will be joined by American-Samoa who beat China 41-34 in the Bronze Medal Game.

“Ningbo has treated to us to a true feast of flag football to close this IFAF Continental Series in superb style,” said IFAF President Pierre Trochet. “With thanks to the efforts of all the athletes, officials and our outstanding partners at the CRFA and Ningbo Local Organising Committee, I am leaving China with my heart full and my head spinning at the possibilities for our sport throughout this Asia-Oceania region.

“The jump in participation and performance levels over two years since the first edition of this championship puts flag football on an incredible trajectory – and what we have seen today from the junior teams makes me believe this region can become a new powerhouse of the sport. Australia, Japan and American Samoa will now have the chance to test themselves on the global stage in Düsseldorf and the rest of the world is on notice.”

The men’s championship game result was a reversal of the bronze medal game from two years ago when Japan triumphed.

“We had great preparation, everyone believed, all the players supported each other and just a great game today,” said Australia quarterback and game MVP Jared Stegman. “We had some adversity, the first time we’ve had some serious adversity together, and we were able to stick together and just keep playing the whole way through. Everyone’s excited to get to work and build off this win.”

Australia head coach Drew Aumavae added: “It’s the players, that’s the secret. It just took a lot of going back to the fundamentals and they bought into that. It’s basically a foundation and we’ll just build on that.”

Japan took a 6-0 lead when quarterback Takehito Taniguchi went to Riki Matsui high in the end zone, but Australia struck back immediately with a touchdown from Marcel Pascual. A safety edged Australia 8-6 ahead, giving them a lead they would not relinquish.

A Jacob Atley touchdown made it 14-6 then after Kodai Okumura’s diving grab in the front of the end zone for a score, Japan was unable to tie the score as a two-point pass attempt was batted down.

Australia quarterback Stegman hit Atley for his second touchdown and Pascual for the point after to open a 21-12 advantage which increased by two more points through a second safety.

Taniguchi reduced the arrears with another touchdown pass to Matsui, but with a four-point cushion Australia was able to run the clock down and claim victory.

Japan had advanced to the Asia-Oceania final with a dramatic 40-39 win over host China to win the Asia tournament. Australia was the tournament’s only unbeaten team having beaten American Samoa and New Zealand twice during the Oceania group round robin.

Asia-Oceania Gold Medal Game
Australia 23 Japan 19

Asia-Oceania Bronze Medal Game
American Samoa 41 China 34

Asia-Oceania Firth Place Game
Thailand 44 New Zealand 34

Asia Tournament Final
Japan 40 China 39

3^rd Place
Thailand 32 Indonesia 20

5^th Place
Philippines 26 Kuwait 12

7^th Place
Singapore 19 Korea 14

Losing quarterfinals bracket
Kuwait 40 Korea 31
Philippines 41 Singapore 19

9^th to 11^th Place
Hong Kong, China 39 Jordan 8
Jordan 34 India 12
Hong Kong, China 34 India 23

Asia Competition Final Standings

1^st Japan
2^nd China
3^rd Thailand
4^th Indonesia
5^th Philippines
6^th Kuwait
7^th Singapore
8^th Korea
9^th Hong Kong, China
10^th Jordan
11^th India

Oceania Competition Final Standings

1^st Australia
2^nd American Samoa
3^rd New Zealand