PARIS - 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 Austin Westlake Stadium in Austin, Texas on Wednesday, February 2.
Seven Team World members hail from Canada West, with the Ubniversity of Saskatchewan producing four on the rioster, Calgary two and Alberta 1.
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 aged 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 January 28 to February 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 coach Marshall, who is also 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.
He added: "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, Florida, 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.
"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."
Returning for a second year is 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.
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."
World Team Members from Canada West
RB Steven Lumbala Canada 5-11 200 University of Calgary
OL Kyle Brow Canada 6-4 275 University of Alberta
ATH Jahlani Gilbert-Knorren Canada 6-1 186 University of Saskatchewan
DL Linden Gaydosh Canada 6-4 320 University of Calgary
DL Levi Steinhauer Canada 6-4 235 University of Saskatchewan
DL Joel Seutter Canada 6-2 235 University of Saskatchewan
DB Luke Thiel Canada 5-10 190 University of Saskatchewan
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.
About USA Football
USA Football, the sport's national governing body, inspires participation, and ensures a positive experience for all youth, high school, and other amateur players.The independent non-profit hosts more than 80 football training events annually for coaches, players and youth football league commissioners. USA Football is the official youth football development partner of the NFL, its 32 teams and the NFL Players Association and manages U.S. national teams for international competition. Endowed by the NFL and NFLPA in 2002 through the NFL Youth Football Fund, USA Football distributes $1 million annually in equipment grants and offers youth league volunteer background check subsidies. Former NFL team executive Carl Peterson is USA Football's chairman.