IFAF NAMES 40 PLAYERS FROM EIGHT COUNTRIES AND FOUR CONTINENTS TO WORLD TEAM ROSTER

International players will come together to take part in the second annual

USA vs. World game on Wednesday, February 2, in Austin, Texas

The International Federation of American Football (IFAF) has selected 40 players from eight countries and four continents for the World Team roster to face The U.S Under 19 National Team, assembled by USA Football, at Austin Westlake Stadium in Austin, Texas on Wednesday, February 2.

The annual game will match an eventual 45-man World Team, which will be completed in the coming weeks, against 45 of the top high school seniors from the United States.  The World Team will feature the best players aged 19-and-under selected from among the 59 IFAF member countries under Canadian head coach GREG MARSHALL, whose coaching staff is selected from eight countries. 

The 2011 World Team roster is comprised of players representing American Samoa (3), Austria (5), Canada (22), Finland (2), Germany (3), Japan (2), Mexico (1) and Sweden (2), who were selected from a provisional list of players nominated by IFAF federations.  They will practice nine times while in Austin from January 28 to February 1.

"It is a challenge to put together a roster of players who are spread around the world and speak different languages, but we are confident that we have selected the best junior international players available," said coach Marshall, who is also head coach of the Western University Mustangs.  Marshall was named the 2010 Ontario University Athletics coach of the year and coached the World Team offensive line last year. 

He added: "We believe we will be competitive and will give players from several countries an opportunity to showcase their talents and to show the American football community that there is a wealth of talent outside what people regard as the game's traditional borders."

The Team USA vs. The World series kicked off in January 2010 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where Team USA earned a 17-0 victory.  The World Team held the hosts scoreless until the final play of the first half, suggesting that the gap in quality between international junior football players and their counterparts from the United States is narrowing as the game's popularity spreads around the world.  The second annual game will kickoff at 7:30 pm CT at Austin Westlake High School Stadium. Tickets cost $8 and are available at www.usafootball.com/app/webroot/teamusa.

"IFAF is excited to again send a team of the world's best under-19 players to take on Team USA," said IFAF President TOMMY WIKING.  "In the last game, the World Team showed that they can compete with the best the United States has to offer.  When we play again in Austin, we will be out there believing we will not only compete, but win."

The World Team squad includes seven returning players who took part in the inaugural 2010 Team USA vs. The World game in Fort Lauderdale.  Among those who impressed is linebacker BECK COULTER from American Samoa, who was among the team's captains and recorded five tackles and a sack. 

Coulter has accepted a scholarship to play at Southern Methodist University having played for four years at Leone High School in American Samoa and then at Trinity (TX) Community College and Eastern Arizona  College.  He will again line up alongside fellow American Samoan, defensive lineman TAVITA KATINA (Fa'asao Marist High School).

Also returning for a second year are defensive backs SOON CHA (University of Ottawa)and CAMERON WADE (Acadia University)and defensive linemen JOEL SUETTER (University of Saskatchewan).

On the offensive side of the ball, Canadian running back STEVEN LUMBALA from the University of Calgary returns having pounded 28 yards on 7 carries against Team USA in 2010.  Compatriot ALEX ANTHONY from Laurier University, who captained the World Team in 2010, will return at wide receiver.  Both were also members of the Team Canada squad that claimed the silver medal at the IFAF Junior World Championship in Canton, Ohio in 2009.

Joining the final World Team roster, an IFAF Development Team will take part in practices in Austin with the aim of identifying and developing future prospects, who will form the basis of the 2012 World Team.  In addition one player from the development team will be selected for the final 2011 World Team roster, while in Austin.

"It is important that we expose younger players to this high level of intense practice and play as we continue to develop quality players internationally," added Wiking.  "The World Team is part of a bigger picture that will increase the standard of the game outside of the United States."

USA Football's 2011 Under-19 team is led by DARREN ALLMAN, head coach of Austin (Texas) Westlake High School, has also announced the majority of players selected for his 45-man roster. Team USA's roster presently stands at 42 athletes from 21 states and Washington, D.C. The remaining three roster spots will be announced soon.

Allman led Westlake to the Texas Class 5-A (largest school division) state final in 2009. He is 57-19 (.750) overall in six seasons as a head coach.

Participation in "Team USA vs. The World" is recognized as a U.S. National Team competition by the NCAA and not considered an all-star game.

"There's no better place to bring the world's best in football than Austin," USA Football Chairman CARL PETERSON said.  "The passion for this sport in South Texas is deep and generational.  Whether a player is from Seattle or Stockholm, he's going to love playing in this atmosphere in front of these fans."

World Team Roster - By Country:

Pos	Name	Last Name	Country	Ht.	Wt.	Team
DL	Tavita	Katina	American Samoa	6-3	250	Fa'asao Marist High School
LB	Beck	Coulter	American Samoa	6-2	240	Eastern Arizona College
LB	Penitito	Faalologo	American Samoa	6-2	200	Fagaitua High School
RB	Andreas	Hofbauer	Austria	5-11	198	Swarco Raiders Tirol
WR	Laurinho	Walch	Austria	5-11	148	Vienna Vikings
OL	Michael	Habetin	Austria	6-3	309	Swarco Raiders Tirol
OL	Aleksandar	Milanovic	Austria	6-6	290	Vienna Vikings
LB	Jakob	Baran	Austria	6-0	220	Danube Dragons
QB	Ben	Rossong	Canada	6-3	210	University of Western Ontario
RB	Steven	Lumbala	Canada	5-11	200	University of Calgary
WR	Alex	Anthony	Canada	6-2	200	Wilfrid Laurier University
WR	Jake	Harty	Canada	6-6	205	Henry Wisewood High School
WR	Tevaun	Smith	Canada	6-1	180	Chaminade College High School
OL	Kyle	Brow	Canada	6-4	275	University of Alberta
OL	Matthias	Goossen	Canada	6-3	290	Simon Fraser University
OL	Winston	Miles	Canada	6-6	305	Forest Hill Collegiate Inst.
ATH	Jahlani	Gilbert-Knorren	Canada	6-1	186	University of Saskatchewan
K/P	Felix	Faubert-Lussier	Canada	6-0	202	Spartiates du Vieux-Montreal
DL	Lindon	Gaydosh	Canada	6-4	320	University of Calgary
DL	Levi	Steinhauer	Canada	6-4	235	University of Saskatchewan
DL	Joel	Seutter	Canada	6-2	235	University of Saskatchewan
LB	Drew	Morris	Canada	6-1	225	Ottawa Sooners
LB	Andrew	Rowe	Canada	6-1	215	Vancouver Island Raiders
DB	Soon	Cha	Canada	5-11	180	University of Ottawa
DB	Thomas	Girard	Canada	5-11	176	François-Xavier Garneau
DB	Marcus	Grandison	Canada	6-0	205	Chaminade College High School
DB	Luke	Thiel	Canada	5-10	190	University of Saskatchewan
DB	Cameron	Wade	Canada	6-2	185	Acadia University
OL	Roman	Grozman	Canada	6-4	330	St Thomas of Villanova Coll.
DL	Shaquille	Armstrong	Canada	6-2	288	Concordia University
DL	Victor	Sarvi	Finland	6-5	253	Helsinki Wolverines
DB	Tuomas	Nurmi	Finland	6-1	198	Helsinki Roosters
QB	Marco	Ehrenfried	Germany	6-5	216	Schwabisch Hall Unicorns
OL	Farid	Jansen	Germany	6-1	267	Düsseldorf Panthers
DL	Marcel	Riep	Germany	6-0	231	Düsseldorf Panthers
RB	Shun	Yokota	Japan	5-10	192	Chuo University
WR	Shin	Takasaki	Japan	5-11	176	Kansai University
WR	Andres	Salgado	Mexico	6-2	170	PUMAS CU
FB	Pontus	Westman	Sweden	6-2	200	Tyreso Royal Crowns
LB	Markus	Westman	Sweden	6-2	205	Tyreso Royal Crowns