Two of the top nations from their respective continents will do battle on Saturday when Italy and Canada will meet at the Impianto Polivalente Terramaini in Cagliari in an IFAF international tackle football friendly game.
The first-ever meeting of the two teams provides Italy with a fiercely competitive game before bidding to win the IFAF European Championship title they last held in 2021. Italy clashes with Austria, Finland and Germany in the Final Four in October to decide the destination of the 2024/25 crown.
A three-time European champion, Italy has a rich history in international competition and won the first-ever continental championship in 1983 and hosted the first two biannual tournaments. The inaugural IFAF World Championship was played in Palermo in 1999, with Italy finishing in fourth place on home soil.
“The game is going to be a great opportunity for some of our players who have not had a chance to showcase their talents,” said Italy Head Coach Brian Michitti who plans to introduce fresh faces into the lineup, showcasing the next generation of Italian players who have excelled in domestic leagues. “Canada has a very strong team, and we expect them to compete well. It will be a fight for our players.
“We have a great group of veterans and a good pool of young talent. In general, football in Italy that has not reached its full potential. The strengths of Italian football have not fully been realized.”
Watch live. Team Canada @ Team Italy, April 19, 16:00 CET (4 pm, 10 am ET)
Canada returns to action as the first step in a national team program reset having not entered the competitive international arena for almost 14 years. Back in 2011, Canada claimed the silver medal at the 2011 IFAF World Championships in Vienna, beating Japan, France and Austria before losing to the United States in the final.
Head Coach Jesse Maddox and his staff have held multiple evaluation and mini camps since August and whittled 500 hopefuls down to the 45-man roster heading to Sardinia. Like their opponents, the Canadians are playing for a place in future competitions with the intention to challenge the eventual European champions to a meeting on the gridiron later this year.
“From our perspective, we’ve got to put Canada back on the map because we’ve been dormant from the senior team’s side,” says Maddox. “Realistically at this point, we’re not ranked, we’re not relevant and there’s not a whole lot going on when it comes to that adult category right now in North America.
“We’re at a point here where we need the opportunity to let the world know that we’re here and we figure by going to Italy, it’s an opportunity for us to get our feet wet and welcome Canada back on a world stage.”
Italy versus Canada marks the first-ever international American football game of this level hosted on the island of Sardinia. Such a milestone is made possible with the strong support of local institutions the Sardinia Region and the City of Cagliari and is organized in collaboration with the local club Cagliari Crusaders – an undefeated team in Italy’s 9FL league.
Team Italy roster
Team Canada roster
Watch live. Team Canada @ Team Italy, April 19, 16:00 CET (4 pm, 10 am ET)