Canada secured an unprecedented threepeat at the 2024 IFAF U20 World Junior Football Championships with a commanding 20-9 victory over Japan in the Gold Medal Game held at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton. This win marks Canada’s third consecutive championship title (2016, 2018, 2024), solidifying their dominance on the international junior football scene.
Edmonton, Alberta was the host of the IFAF U20 World Junior Football Championships from June 20-30. The City of Champions hosted a total of 12 games as teams from Australia, Austria, Brazil, Japan, Panama, and the United States challenged Canada’s dominance at the World Junior level. This marks the sixth edition of the tournament. The IFAF U20 World Junior Football Championships continues to be a platform for young athletes to showcase their talents and represent their countries with pride. This year’s event in Edmonton has once again brought together some of the best young tackle football players from around the world, promising a bright future for the sport.
This was the first year that Football Canada brought two teams to compete in the IFAF U20 World Junior Football Championships. The journey started in Calgary, Alberta where 90 of the best U20 tackle football players from across the country competed in training camp at McMahon Stadium. Prior to their arrival in Edmonton, Team Canada made a memorable stop in Banff for some crucial team bonding, featuring activities like hiking and refreshing cold plunges. Football Canada’s ability to field two teams at the IFAF U20 World Junior Football Championships is a true testament to the depth of talent throughout Canada.
Results: Team Canada 1
June 22: Team Canada (110) vs Team Brazil (0)
June 25: Team Canada (27) vs Team Austria (20)
Gold Medal Game:
June 30: Team Canada (20) vs Team Japan (9)
Team Canada 1 showcased its dominance going undefeated in the tournament with an opening victory against Team Brazil, followed by a dramatic win against the European champion, Team Austria in the semi-final and a decisive win against Team Japan in the Gold Medal Game to capture the first threepeat at the IFAF U20 World Junior Football Championships.
“After the first practice this squad held, we knew we had something special and we built a championship culture and all these kids really executed what we wanted to do,” said Canada Head Coach Warren Craney.
Team Canada 1’s Key Players
Pepe Gonzalez (QB), Nathan Carignan (WR), Leonard Lemay (RB), Isaac Pepin (MVP, DB), Jayden Rice (K/P), Benjamin Blaise (LB)
Results: Team Canada 2
June 22: Team Canada (13) vs Team Austria (41)
June 25: Team Canada (67) vs Team Brazil (7)
Fifth Place Game:
June 30: Team Canada (45) vs Team Australia (7)
After an initial defeat in their opening game against Austria, followed by a resounding 63-7 win over Brazil, a subsequent victory against Australia marked a strong fifth place finish for Team Canada 2 at the 2024 IFAF U20 World Junior Football Championships.
Team Canada 2’s Key Players: Cesare Rednour-Bruckman (WR/RB), Josh Page (QB), Domenic Limanni (DL), Gabriel Andre-Melteau (LB), Milan Fernandes (OL)
Additional Tournament Awards
Offensive Standouts, Canada: Charles Fortin (RB), Pepe Gonzalez (QB)
Defensive Standouts, Canada: Benjamin Blaise (LB)
Special Teams Standouts, Canada: Jayden Rice (K/P)
Final Standings
1. Team Canada 1
2. Team Japan
3. Team Austria
4. Team USA
5. Team Canada 2
6. Team Australia
7. Team Panama
8. Team Brazil
For more information and updates, visit worldjrfootballchampionships.com and https://footballcanada.com/ and follow Football Canada on social media.