USAfootball

IFAF names 40 players from eight countries and four continents to World Team roster

The International Federation of American Football (IFAF) has selected 40 players from eight countries and four continents for the World Team roster to face the U.S Under-19 National Team, assembled by USA Football, at Westlake High School Stadium on Wednesday, Feb. 2 in Austin, Texas.

The annual game will match an eventual 45-man World Team, which will be completed in the coming weeks, against 45 of the top high school seniors from the United States. The World Team will feature the best players age 19-and-under selected from among the 59 IFAF member countries under Canadian head coach GREG MARSHALL, whose coaching staff is selected from eight countries.

The 2011 World Team roster is comprised of players representing American Samoa (3), Austria (5), Canada (22), Finland (2), Germany (3), Japan (2), Mexico (1) and Sweden (2), who were selected from a provisional list of players nominated by IFAF federations. They will practice nine times while in Austin from Jan. 28 to Feb. 1.

"It is a challenge to put together a roster of players who are spread around the world and speak different languages, but we are confident that we have selected the best junior international players available," said Marshall, the head coach of the Western University Mustangs. Marshall was named the 2010 Ontario University Athletics coach of the year and coached the World Team offensive line last year.

"We believe we will be competitive and will give players from several countries an opportunity to showcase their talents and to show the American football community that there is a wealth of talent outside what people regard as the game's traditional borders."

The Team USA vs. The World series kicked off in January 2010 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., where Team USA earned a 17-0 victory. The World Team held the hosts scoreless until the final play of the first half, suggesting that the gap in quality between international junior football players and their counterparts from the United States is narrowing as the game's popularity spreads around the world. The second annual game will kickoff at 7:30 pm CT at Austin Westlake High School Stadium. Tickets cost $8.

"IFAF is excited to again send a team of the world's best under-19 players to take on Team USA," said IFAF President TOMMY WIKING. "In the last game, the World Team showed that they can compete with the best the United States has to offer. When we play again in Austin, we will be out there believing we will not only compete, but win."

The World Team squad includes seven returning players who took part in the inaugural 2010 Team USA vs. The World game in Fort Lauderdale. Among those who impressed is linebacker BECK COULTER from American Samoa, who was among the team's captains and recorded five tackles and a sack.

Coulter has accepted a scholarship to play at Southern Methodist University having played for four years at Leone High School in American Samoa and then at Trinity (TX) Community College and Eastern Arizona College. He will again line up alongside fellow American Samoan, defensive lineman TAVITA KATINA (Fa'asao Marist High School).

Also returning for a second year are defensive backs SOON CHA (University of Ottawa) and CAMERON WADE (Acadia University) and defensive linemen JOEL SUETTER (University of Saskatchewan).

On the offensive side of the ball, Canadian running back STEVEN LUMBALA from the University of Calgary returns having pounded 28 yards on 7 carries against Team USA in 2010. Compatriot ALEX ANTHONY from Laurier University, who captained the World Team in 2010, will return at wide receiver. Both were also members of the Team Canada squad that claimed the silver medal at the IFAF Junior World Championship in Canton, Ohio in 2009.

Joining the final World Team roster, an IFAF Development Team will take part in practices in Austin with the aim of identifying and developing future prospects, who will form the basis of the 2012 World Team. In addition one player from the development team will be selected for the final 2011 World Team roster, while in Austin.

"It is important that we expose younger players to this high level of intense practice and play as we continue to develop quality players internationally," added Wiking. "The World Team is part of a bigger picture that will increase the standard of the game outside of the United States."

USA Football's 2011 Under-19 team is led by DARREN ALLMAN, head coach of Austin (Texas) Westlake High School, has also announced the majority of players selected for his 45-man roster. Team USA's roster presently stands at 42 athletes from 21 states and Washington, D.C. The remaining three roster spots will be announced soon.

Allman led Westlake to the Texas Class 5-A (largest school division) state final in 2009. He is 57-19 (.750) overall in six seasons as a head coach.

Participation in "Team USA vs. The World" is recognized as a U.S. National Team competition by the NCAA and not considered an all-star game.

"There's no better place to bring the world's best in football than Austin," USA Football Chairman CARL PETERSON said. "The passion for this sport in South Texas is deep and generational. Whether a player is from Seattle or Stockholm, he's going to love playing in this atmosphere in front of these fans."

About IFAF

The International Federation of American Football (IFAF) unites 59 countries on five continents through a burgeoning international sport. With national football federations in existence for more than 75 years, IFAF was created in 1998 to organize and further develop the game through international cooperation and global competition. The IFAF office is located near Paris, France.

World Team Roster - By Country: