Japan and Canada could meet again in 2012 (Photo: Shawn Hubbard)

The schedule and seeds for the 2012 IFAF Under-19 World Championship of American football to be played at Burger Stadium in Austin, Texas from Saturday, June 30, to Saturday, July 7, have been announced.

IFAF President Tommy Wiking and Scott Hallenbeck, Executive Director of the host federation USA Football, made the announcement at a press conference following technical meetings held in Austin this week.

The tournament returns to the United States this summer featuring the national teams of American Samoa, Austria, Canada, France, Japan, Panama, Sweden and the United States. Multi-game ticket options are now available at www.U19championship.com.

The United States begins the defense of its title won in Canton, Ohio, in 2009 against a team making its tournament debut, American Samoa, who beat Australia 93-7 to qualify for the event.

2012 IFAF Under-19 World Championship Schedule

Saturday, June 30 (all games at Burger Stadium)
9:00 a.m. No. 4 Panama vs. No. 5 Austria
11:30 a.m. No. 3 Japan vs. No. 6 France
5:00 p.m. No. 2 Canada vs. No. 7 Sweden
8:00 p.m. No. 1 United States vs. No. 8 American Samoa

Tuesday, July 3
5:00 p.m. JPN/FRA losing team vs. CAN/SWE losing team
8:00 p.m. PAN/AUT losing team vs. USA/AMS losing team

Wednesday, July 4
5:30 p.m. JPN/FRA winner vs. CAN/SWE winner
8:00 p.m. PAN/AUT winner vs. USA/AMS winner

Friday, July 6
5:00 p.m. 7th place game
8:00 p.m. 5th place game

Saturday, July 7
5:00 p.m. Bronze Medal Game
8:00 p.m. Gold Medal Game

Two newcomers will kick off the tournament at 9am on Saturday, June 30 when Panama takes on European champion Austria, followed by the 2009 bronze medalist Japan against France at 11.30am. Canada, beaten finalist three years ago, faces Sweden at 5pm before the United States and American Samoa do battle at 8pm.

The results will decide the schedule of games for July 3 and 4 winners of the games played on the Fourth of July will play for the Gold Medal three days later at 8pm on Saturday, July 7.

Representatives from the eight Under-19 national teams spanning four continents this week visited practice facilities, game sites and housing accommodations and discussed plans for the tournament.

Representing their national team programs in Austin were:
• SCOTT HALLENBECK, USA Football executive director
• FREDRIK HARALDSON, Sweden chef de mission (general manager)
• OLIVIER MORET, France head coach
• THOMAS OELSBOECK, Austria chef de mission (general manager)
• MEL PURCELL, American Samoa chef de mission (general manager)
• GUILLERMO SUAREZ, Panama chef de mission (general manager)
• NOEL THORPE, Canada head coach
• SHINZO YAMADA, Japan chef de mission (general manager)