In the upcoming summer Australia, Germany, France, Mexico, Canada, Japan, defending champion USA and Austria will compete for the title of World Champion in Graz, Innsbruck and Vienna.
"Never before has there been a bigger World Championship. We play in the biggest stadiums, for the best fans. This is the first time that all the top nations in international American Football are coming together to play in the same tournament," says Michael Eschlböck, president of the American Football Bund Österreich (The Austrian American Football Association). "The World Championship will definitely be a historic event for the development of our sport and we are looking forward to guests from all over the world who will make this event something truly special."
Eight countries from four continents that will compete in the fourth IFAF Senior World Championship of American football are heading to Training Camp as they prepare to compete for the sport's world title next month in Austria.
The IFAF Senior World Championship, held every four years since 1999, will feature eight nations from four continents - Australia, Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Mexico and United States - competing in Vienna, Innsbruck and Graz from July 8-16.
"Never before has there been a bigger IFAF Senior World Championship," said tournament organizer Michael Eschlböck, president of the American Football Bund Österreich (The Austrian American Football Association). "All the top nations in American Football are coming together to play in the same tournament. It will definitely be a historic event for the development of our sport and we are looking forward to guests from all over the world who will make this event something truly special."
For some nations, this will be the first time their senior national teams have come together on the same field, and coaching staffs will have the daunting task off of installing the game plans and schemes in a relatively short amount of time. Most teams will hold two-day practices with team meetings in between the on-field practices.
With official rosters of 75 players submitted to the IFAF competitions committee, some teams have invited more than 45 players to camp, including Canada and Austria who brought 50 and 52 players respectively. Those numbers will be cut down to the final 45-man roster at the conclusion of the each camp.
Following the camps, each team will then make their journey to either Graz or Innsbruck in Austria for the opening games. Group A - Australia, Germany, Mexico and USA - will play the first round games in Innsbruck, while Group B - Austria, Canada, France and Japan - will play in Graz.
July 8 - 3pm: USA vs Australia
July 9 - 3 pm / 15.00 (CEST): Austria vs Japan (live)
July 11 - 3 pm / 15.00 (CEST): Japan vs France (live)
July 11 - 7 pm / 19.00 (CEST): Canada vs Austria (live)
July 13 - 3 pm / 15.00 (CEST): Japan vs Canada (live)
July 13 - 7 pm / 19.00 (CEST): Austria vs France (live)
July 15 - 3 pm / 15.00 (CEST): Game for 7th place (live)
July 15 - 7 pm / 19.00 (CEST): Game for 3rd place (live)
July 16 - 3 pm / 15.00 (CEST): Game for 5th place (live)
July 16 - 7 pm / 19.00 (CEST): Final Game (live)
July 9 - 3 pm / 15.00 (CEST): Austria vs Japan (live)
July 11 - 3 pm / 15.00 (CEST): Japan vs France (live)
July 11 - 7 pm / 19.00 (CEST): Canada vs Austria (live)
July 13 - 3 pm / 15.00 (CEST): Japan vs Canada (live)
July 13 - 7 pm / 19.00 (CEST): Austria vs France (live)
July 15 - 3 pm / 15.00 (CEST): Game for 7th place (live)
July 15 - 7 pm / 19.00 (CEST): Game for 3rd place (live)
July 16 - 3 pm / 15.00 (CEST): Game for 5th place (live)
July 16 - 7 pm / 19.00 (CEST): Final Game (live)
July 8 - 7 pm / 19.00 (CEST): Germany vs Mexico (live)
July 10 - 10 pm / 22.00 (CEST): Germany vs USA (as live)
July 11 - 11pm / 23.00 (CEST): Austria vs Canada (as live)
July 12 - 3 pm / 15.00 (CEST): Germany vs Australia (live)
July 12 - 7 pm / 19.00 (CEST): USA vs Mexico (live)
July 13 - 11 pm / 23.00 (CEST): Austria vs France (as live)
July 15 - 11 pm / 23.00 (CEST): Game for 3rd place (as live)
July 16 - 11 pm / 23.00 (CEST): Final Game (as live)
July 12 - 3 pm / 15.00 (CEST): Germany vs Australia (live)
July 12 - 7 pm / 19.00 (CEST): USA vs Mexico (live)
July 13 - 11 pm / 23.00 (CEST): Austria vs France (as live)
July 15 - 11 pm / 23.00 (CEST): Game for 3rd place (as live)
July 16 - 11 pm / 23.00 (CEST): Final Game (as live)
The first games kickoff on July 8 as defending champion the United States takes on Australia and current European Champions Germany lines up against Mexico. The first games in Group B will be held the following day on July 9 as host Austria plays two-time champions Japan, and Canada faces France on the Canadians' IFAF Senior World Championship debut.