The serpentine system used to determine the groups for the IFAF Flag Football World Championships has brought together two highly ranked European nations and another pair of teams capable of making an impression in Finland.
Austria’s women claimed bronze the last time the world’s flag football elite convened in Israel, adding to a silver won in 2016 and two other third places in 2010 and 2014.
In The World Games, Austria beat France, but lost to USA and Panama in the group stages, setting up a quarterfinal meeting with Japan, who were defeated 39-32. Having lost out to the United States in a close semifinal, Austria faced Panama in the bronze medal game, but were unable to secure a medal.