Canada ready to tackle the worlds

2017 IFAF Women’s World Championship begins June 24 in Langley, BC

Photo credit: 2013 WWC Finland

Football Canada’s women’s national team is ready to play against the best female tackle football players from around the world as the third edition of IFAF Women’s World Championship kicks-off Saturday June 24 in Langley, BC at McLeod Stadium.

“Our team is really excited to be able to play on home soil. I’ve had the opportunity to represent Canada on more than one occasion and it’s always a special opportunity but this time around, we’ll get to do it on home soil,” said Canada head coach, Jeff Yausie who returns after serving the same role in 2013. “No other Football Canada tackle football national team has had that opportunity so we’re excited to get started.”

Canada opens the tournament against Australia, one of three first time participating nations.

“We expect a tough first game against Australia,” said Yausie.

Australia is led by head coach, Jen Welter, the first female coach in the NFL.

“They (Australia) were the first team to arrive in Vancouver and have been busy preparing for the tournament with a training camp at SFU,” said Yausie of Canada’s first opponent. “With the growth of the game around the world they have more players playing American tackle football than we do in Canada. We expect them to be well coached and prepared for their tournament debut.”

Canada enters the 2017 tournament looking to build upon a pair of silver medals won at the 2010 and 2013 events in Sweden and Finland, respectively.

“We’re heading into this year’s tournament looking to win gold. That’s our goal and we know it’s not going to be easy.”

“Our girls are proud, tough and talented… we will play hard and do our best to represent our country.”

After a tough opening day draw, on June 27, the host nation will face the winner of Finland and Great Britain. Finland captured bronze at the first two worlds while Great Britain makes their tournament entrance after falling to Finland in the 2015 European Championship.

“There’s some good football going on in Europe,” explained Yausie of Canada’s competition on day two.

“We played Team Finland back in the last world championship and we were down at halftime. They’re well coached and a good football team. We know we’ll have our hands full (with either Finland or Great Britain).”

Team USA heads into the 2017 women’s worlds looking to add a third gold medal and stay undefeated at the tournament.

“USA leads the pack,” said Yausie of the field of six which also includes Mexico, the third first time women’s tournament participant. “There’s somewhere between three and six thousand women that play in a couple of different leagues in the US. We’re catching up on that (in Canada)… and we’re excited to see the talent that we’re going to put on the field this year.”

Tournament Schedule

June 24

June 27

June 30

Teams will progress to the final game day based upon their records in the previous two game days.

This post is also available in: French