-Canton, OH
Japan and the US face off once again in the 2015 International Federation of American Football World Championship. It will be the second time the two teams have played each other this week, and the second time they have met in the IFAF 'World Cup' Gold Medal game. They are the only two teams who have won the championship, each team has won two each.
The 2015 tournament was originally going to be held in Stockholm, Sweden. However local organizers had to cancel the event due to lack of sponsorship and other financial difficulties. The scheduled twelve team tournament was pared down, and relocated to Canton, OH, home of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and "birthplace of professional football". Austria, Germany, and Morocco had to drop out because of the added expense of traveling to the US.
Earlier this week in Round 2, the #1 seed US team defeated #3 seed Japan 43-18 in a game that was actually quite close at the half. Japan had the ball late in the second quarter and was driving, trailing only 8-3. But the US dominated the Japan team in the second half. Kevin Burke and Dylan Favre [yes, nephew of THAT Favre ] shared duties at QB for the US, rolling up 580 yards of total offense. Shohei Kato, was 28-of-49 passing for 273 yards and MVP for Team Japan.
Japan rebounded with a strong showing against #4 seed Mexico behind Tetsuo Takata, scoring quickly and harassing QB Roberto Vega all afternoon into four interceptions, as Japan won 35-7. The US later steamrolled France 82-0 to set up the Gold Medal rematch.
The tournament presents a somewhat punishing schedule of four rounds in eight days, with games three days apart. Japan was the beneficiary of a Round 1 bye in the tournament, as #2 seeded Canada withdrew from the tournament late in April, leaving the tournament with only 7 teams. Canada cited budgetary and sponsorship difficulties, as well as scheduling conflicts for Canadian players trying out for Canadian Football League rosters.
The 2011 World Cup tournament in Austria, Canada came back late in the 4th Quarter and holding on to defeat Japan 31-27, before losing to the US in the championship game.
International football fans may well remember the 2007 championship held
in Japan. A typhoon nearly postponed or cancelled the championship
game, but the US team (coached by John Mackovic) managed to defeat Japan
in double overtime, 23-20, in what turned out to be a tremendous
game. It was the first championship for the US, and the first time
they participated. Japan had won the previous two world championships
(held in 1999 and 2003).
Japanese defensive lineman Yasuo Wakisaka, at age 46, is the only player to appear in every IFAF world championship tournament since its inception in 1999.
The Gold Medal game will kickoff at 7PM EDT Saturday (8AM Sunday Japan time).
The Bronze Medal game between Mexico and France will begin at 3:30.
