IFAF Under-19 World Championship begins on Wednesday in Harbin, China and Australia will open the tournament against the host team China.
The Australian Team got their 2016 campaign off to a great start with a victory over New Zealand in a warm-up game last Saturday to the turn of 20-7. There is no way to tell how good the Chian team will be but I would have to guess that Australia should get a win to open the tournament.
The countries taking part are below with links to each teams rosters:
A website for the championships has been launched www.ifaf2016u19.com but there is little information on it, I have a fear that due to China’s sell then open internet we will struggle to get information about the championships.
Below is the tentative game schedule which has come from USAFootball.com and subject to change.
2016 IFAF Under-19 World Championship tournament schedule
Home team listed first (Kick-off times are local)
Wednesday, June 29
- 1 p.m. – No. 6 Australia vs. No. 7 China (B2)
- 4 p.m. – No. 5 Japan vs. No. 8 TBD (B1)
Thursday, June 30
- 1 p.m. – No. 2 Canada vs. No. 3 Mexico (A2)
- 4 p.m. – No. 1 USA vs. No. 4 Austria (A1)
Saturday, July 2
- 1 p.m. – Loser B2 vs. Loser B1 (B3)
- 4 p.m. – Winner B1 vs. Winner B2 (B4)
Sunday, July 3
- 1 p.m. – Loser A2 vs. Loser A1 (A3)
- 4 p.m. – Winner A1 vs. Winner A2 (A4)
Wednesday, July 6
- 1 p.m. – Loser A3 vs. Loser B3 (B5)
- 4 p.m. – Loser B4 vs. Winner B3 (B6)
Thursday, July 7
- 1 p.m. – Winner A4 vs. Winner B4 (A5)
- 4 p.m. – Loser A4 vs. Winner A3 (A6)
Saturday, July 9
- 1 p.m. – Seventh-place game (Loser B6 vs. Loser B5)
- 4 p.m. – Fifth place game (Winner B5 vs. Winner B6)
Sunday, July 10-**
- 1 p.m. – Bronze Medal Game (Loser A6 vs. Loser A5)
- 4 p.m. – Gold Medal Game (Winner A5 vs. Winner A6)
**-Kickoff times for July 10 will be switched if Austria participates in the Gold Medal Game to accommodate travel schedules.
**UPDATE**
American Football International have published an article titled “IFAF Under-19 World Championships Kicks Off Under A Pall of Uncertainty” This is a must read with regards to what is going on with IFAF.
[quote align=”center” color=”#999999″]IFAF has split into two entities and the faction headed up by Tommy Wiking has not sanctioned the event in China. The “other” IFAF led by Finland’s Rooper Noronen, is behind the organization working with a group in China. Interestingly, China is still not a member of IFAF. [/quote]
