Canada to Face Japan in IFAF U20 World Championship Gold Medal Match, Tickets on sale NOW
Edmonton, Alberta – After a thrilling victory over Austria in the semi-finals, Canada 1 is set to take on Japan in the Gold Medal Match of the 2024 IFAF U20 World Championships. The final will take place at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton on Sunday, June 30, with kickoff at 5:00 PM local time. USA will face Austria for the Bronze at 12 PM.
Canada 1, aiming for an unprecedented third consecutive championship title, showcased resilience and determination in their semi-final against European Champion Austria, securing a thrilling 27-20 win.
“I think we’ll match up well because I think we’re both very fast teams and while I don’t want to say we’re terrified of them we’re very aware of the threat they pose,” said Canada head coach Warren Craney of Sunday’s opponent.
“They are incredible. They look like the best team in the tournament to me. They are really talented, fast, and they have something they’ve never had in the past, which is the size on the offensive line.”
Japan, making their first appearance in the Gold Medal Match, earned their spot with an upset that took the football world by storm over football giant, the United States, triumphing 41-20 in a game highlighted by their dominant defense and efficient offence.
“The gold medal is our final goal,” said Japan head coach Makoto Ohashi, who was Japan’s defensive coordinator in 2018, having been the assistant head coach two years earlier.
“We believe in our potential with our speed and quickness. We will not change our game plan. Canada [is] very organized and the team that wins will be the team that executes the best.”
Adjoining Clarke Stadium in Edmonton will host the placement battles for fifth place as Australia takes on Canada 2, and for seventh place as Panama meets Brazil.
Team Canada fans and supporters are encouraged to get their tickets early to witness this historic matchup. Single Game Tickets are available for purchase through TicketMaster and the official tournament website at worldjrfootballchampionships.com.
The City of Edmonton welcomes fans to join in celebrating junior football excellence on the international stage. For those unable to attend in person, all the action will be streamed live on IFAF.TV, allowing fans worldwide to follow every moment of both the Gold and Bronze Medal Matches. Fans can now catch up on all IFAF World Junior action by watching all of this year’s matches leading up to the medal rounds for FREE, on-demand, on IFAF.TV
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to support Canada’s quest for a threepeat and witness the best young football talent from around the globe compete for the championship title.
About the IFAF U20 World Junior Championships: The 2024 IFAF U20 World Championships, hosted in Edmonton from June 22-30, features teams from Canada, Japan, USA, Australia, Austria, Panama, and Brazil. The tournament showcases the rising stars of international junior football, highlighting skill, sportsmanship, and competitive spirit.
For more information and updates, visit worldjrfootballchampionships.com and follow Football Canada and Football Alberta on social media.
