The Canada national football junior team a.k.a. the Football Canada World Junior Team represent Canada in international gridiron football competitions. The football program is part of the football development program and is controlled by Football Canada and is recognized by the International Federation of American Football (IFAF). It is the premiere team in male development for the organization. While Football Canada is the governing body for amateur Canadian football, IFAF-sponsored games are played using American football rules. Team Canada first competed on the world stage in the NFL Global Junior Championship in 2000 with a championship victory over Team Europe. They competed for their first IFAF Junior World Championship in 2009.
Canada developed the Football Canada World Junior Team as an elite program which participated in IFAF Under-19 World Championship which was held every two years from 2012 until 2020.
The IFAF U20 World Junior Championship replaced the U19 format and was staged in June 2024 in Edmonton, Canada. With the 2020 championship cancelled due to COVID-19, there were efforts to restage that event in 2021 as a U20 aged event in Vancouver, but was still subject to pandemic cancellations.
History Football Canada became a full member of the IFAF in 2004. Thereafter Canada competed in international junior, flag, and women's football events.
Team Canada is the most successful team at the IFAF World Junior Championships, with four gold and two silver medals. Canada is the only national team to win three consecutive championships in 2016 in Harbin, China over the United States, followed up with a 2018 win over the Mexico, and a 2024 win over Japan.https://www.americanfootballinternational.com/canada-defeats-team-mexico-wins-gold-medal-at-2018-ifaf-u19-world-championships/#:~:text=U19%20World%20Championships-,Canada%20defeats%20Team%20Mexico%2C%20wins%20gold%20medal,2018%20IFAF%20U19%20World%20Championships&text=Team%20Canada%20defeated%20Mexico%2013,Mexico%20City's%2068%20Olympic%20Stadium .
The roster of the Canada national football junior team is players aged 20 and under and are typically from U SPORTS, Canadian Junior Football League (CJFL), Quebec-based CEGEP schools, high school or community football programs. The head coach for the program is selected by Football Canada and appointed prior to selecting the remainder of the tournaments coaching staff or players. Warren Craney was appointed head coach of the 2024 team, reprising his role from 2016. Craney is the most decorated coach in IFAF football with two gold medals as a head coach (2016, 2024), one gold as an offensive coordinator in 2012, and two slivers (2009, 2014). In the 2024 World Junior Championship, Canada "B" Team named Canada II, coached by former McGill Redbirds head coach Ronald Hilaire, finished at the fifth place.
IFAF World Junior Championship Games WC Winner Loser Game Date and location2009 Canada 55 New Zealand 0 Quarterfinal June 27, 2009 at Canton, Ohio Canada 38 Japan 35 Semifinal July 1, 2009 at Canton, OhioUnited States41Canada3FinalJuly 4, 2009 at Canton, Ohio2012 Canada 43 Sweden 0 Quarterfinal June 30, 2012 at Austin, TexasCanada 33 Japan 24 Semifinal July 4, 2012 at Austin, TexasCanada 23 USA 17 Final July 7, 2012 at Austin, Texas2014 Canada 91 Kuwait 0 Pool game July 7, 2014 at Kuwait CityCanada 56 France 0 Pool game July 10, 2014 at Kuwait CityCanada 36 Austria 7 Pool game July 13, 2014 at Kuwait CityUnited States 40 Canada 17 Final July 16, 2014 at Kuwait City2016 Canada 30 Mexico 16 Pool game June 30, 2016 at Harbin, ChinaUnited States 32 Canada 14 Pool game July 3, 2016 at Harbin, ChinaCanada 28 Mexico 21 Semifinal July 7, 2016 at Harbin, ChinaCanada (2) 24 United States 6 Final July 10, 2016 at Harbin, China2018 Canada 60 Sweden 0 Quarterfinal July 15, 2018 at Mexico CityCanada 28 Japan 22 Semifinal July 18, 2018 at Mexico CityCanada (3)13 Mexico 7 Final July 21, 2018 at Mexico City2024 Canada 110 Brazil 0 Quarterfinal June 22, 2024 at Edmonton, AlbertaCanada 27 Austria 20 Semifinal June 26, 2024 at Edmonton, AlbertaCanada (4)20Japan9 Final June 30, 2024 at Edmonton, Alberta
References
External links IFAF U19 World Championships official site Football Canada official site