Switzerland’s men and Japan’s women are returning home to Europe and Asia from Finland proudly wearing bronze medals.
Switzerland capped a relentless giant-killing run at the 2024 IFAF Flag Football World Championships a 41-35 victory over number two seed Mexico.
Japan executed their offense to perfection on a final drive then the defense held firm to edge Austria 41-10 at the Lahti Sports Centre in Finland.
At the end of a game in which the lead changed on almost every possession, the Swiss men scored with only seconds remaining. A pass break-up in their own end zone as time expired denied Mexico a dramatic comeback.
Photo: Ian Humes
“This is absolutely surreal, no one believed we could do it, but we came here and played our own game,” said defensive back Claudio Ferrari. “Most of all we came together as one amazing team and with these guys we went on an incredible run, and this is one of those Cinderella stories.
“Coming up against teams from all over the world really helps the game grow. The exchange with the international community – not only playing against these guys but also talking to them – at the end of the day we all want to grow the sport of flag football. This World Championships has been an amazing event.”
Switzerland, ranked 14th in the world, had already surprised higher seeds Canada, Japan and Panama on their way to medal glory.
In the women’s Bronze Medal Game, there was plenty of offense on show as Japan fought back from trailing with almost a minute to play and then denied Austria to win by the slimmest of margins.
“I am a lawyer in the US and I am a single mom with a three-year-old and I left them in Japan and I worked so hard at the weekends to go to practice, so this means a lot to me,” said a tearful wide receiver Fuyuki Hamaguchi. “I wanted to get a medal to take home for my son.
“This place is so nice, and it already feels like my second home. The people are so friendly, and I am so glad to be here and to win with Japan.”
Japan a first-ever world championships medal to an Asia-Oceania continental championships gold medal won in 2023.