Qualifying teams for the IFAF World Junior Championship, schedule to be announced
By Jamie Geisler
The IFAF World Junior Championship, a pinnacle event in global men’s tackle football, is set to make its return in June 2024. With seven teams already qualified and two nations poised to vie for the final spot in the Americas qualification game this winter, anticipation builds for the World Championship slated to take place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
As the reigning champions with a gold medal finish in front of a crowd of over 35,000 at Estadio OlímpicoUniversitario at the 2018 World Juniors in Mexico City, Canada holds the top seed. They are seeking an unparalleled third consecutive title in the event’s history. Mexico, the 2018 silver medalists, and the United States, who took home the bronze, complete the top three seeds.
Austria clinches the fourth seed as the winners of the European under-19 championship, followed by Asian qualifiers Japan and Oceania qualifiers Australia. Sweden claims the seventh seed, buoyed by their European qualifier second-place finish and their participation in the Mexico 2018 event.
Brazil and Panama are poised to face off in January for the coveted final South American spot.
QUALIFIED TEAMS:
1. Canada – Defending Champion and host
2. Mexico – 2018 Silver Medalist
3. United States – 2018 Bronze Medalist
4. Austria – Europe Top Seed
5. Japan – Asia Top Seed
6. Australia – Oceania Top Seed
7. Sweden – Europe #2 Seed
8. Americas Qualifying Game – Brazil vs. Panama (January 2024 winner advances)
This is the first World Junior Championship employing the Under-20 age grouping. Previously, all WJFC were U19 competitions.
PAST WINNERS AND HOST CITIES:
2009: Canton, Ohio, USA United States 41, Canada 3
2012: Austin, Texas, USA Canada 23, United States 17
2014: Kuwait City, Kuwait United States 40, Canada 17
2016: Harbin, China Canada 24, United States 6
2018: Mexico City, CDMX Canada 14, Mexico 7
2024: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada – Scheduled for June 2024
Further details on the scheduling of the IFAF U20 World Junior Championships will be made public at the annual IFAF Congress, November 25th in Paris.
