Canada’s Senior Men’s National Tackle Team to take on Italy in International Friendly

The men’s national tackle teams of Italy and Canada will face off in a Trans-Atlantic friendly on Saturday, April 19, at the Impianto Polivalente Terramaini in Cagliari, Sardinia (kickoff at 4 p.m. CET).

“We are excited to finally announce this game,” said Jesse Maddox, head coach of the Canadian Senior Men’s National Tackle Team. “We have worked closely with both IFAF and FIDAF to provide a high-level event that we know will live up to expectations.”

This first-ever meeting between the two nations marks a historic milestone for American football in Sardinia, coinciding with the official inauguration of Impianto Polivalente Terramaini, a state-of-the-art facility that will serve as the home for the island’s teams.

Italy’s Rich Football Legacy

Italy has a storied history in international competition, having won the inaugural European Championship in 1983 and hosting the tournament’s first two editions. In 1999, Palermo welcomed the world’s top teams for the first-ever IFAF World Championship, where Italy finished fourth.

A three-time European champion, most recently in 2021, Italy has also earned three silver and two bronze continental medals. Later this year, the 2023 bronze medalists will battle Austria, Finland, and Germany in the IFAF European Championships Final Four—making this friendly an ideal test.

Canada’s Return to the International Stage

Canada, a global powerhouse in tackle football, won silver at the 2011 IFAF World Championship in Vienna, defeating Japan, France, and Austria before falling to the United States in the final. While Canada’s junior national team has dominated on the world stage—capturing a third consecutive IFAF U20 title in Edmonton last summer—this game marks the men’s team’s first international competition since 2011.

The 45-player Canadian roster, along with seven practice squad members, represents all regions of the country. Head coach Jesse Maddox led a rigorous selection process, narrowing the squad from more than 500 athletes who attended identification camps nationwide.

“We are confident that this group represents the best of Canadian football and will compete at the highest level,” said Maddox. “We are excited for the challenge ahead. Canada is back, and we are committed to setting the standard for senior men’s tackle football on the international stage.”