Overseas Teams Traveled from Canada, Finland, Mexico and U.S.A. to Participate in the 60th Annual Event at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports
The third time competing at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports was a charm for both Queretaro of Mexico and the EAFL Falcons from the United Arab Emirates as each claimed a Pop Warner International Super Bowl championship for the first time.
Queretaro finished with a 2-0 record in the Varsity division and took the title by virtue of an unbeaten record and Thursday’s win over Canada. JV champion EAFL was the only unbeaten team at that level with a 3-0 record.
The Finland Blue Lions celebrated its nation’s first visit to the Pop Warner International Super Bowl with a win at both the Varsity and JV levels, beating EAFL 18-0 and Puebla 18-9 respectively.
The international youngsters were among the more than 16,000 American football and dance and cheer enthusiasts who converged on the ESPN Wide World of Sports™ Complex from December 3 through 10. The overseas participants from Canada, Finland, Mexico and the UAE also enjoyed a celebration party at Disney’s Hollywood Studios a speed clinic coordinated by respected football coach Peter Vaas and top performance coach Tom Shaw.
“It is rewarding to have gathered so many young athletes from different parts of the globe at the largest annual youth football event in the world,” said Global Football president and founder Patrick Steenberge. “We are thankful to Pop Warner for including the international division in the Super Bowl, as we have grown in numbers every year and hope to continue to do so. Many parents and organizers worked long and hard to make this possible, and deserve a huge thank you.”
Finland’s Blue Lions made history as the first-ever European nation represented at the Pop Warner International Super Bowl, joining international teams that have made the visit to Orlando an annual highlight of their season.
Varsity scores:
Queretaro 36 EAFL 6
Canada 30 Finland 0
Puebla 20 EAFL 6
Queretaro 16 Canada 13
Puebla 28 Finland 0
Finland 18 EAFL 0
Canada 19 Puebla 7
Standings:
Queretaro 2-0
Canada 2-1
Puebla 2-1
Finland 1-2
EAFL 0-3
Junior Varsity scores:
Puebla 27 Finland 0
EAFL 13 Puebla 7
EAFL 6 Finland 0
Finland 18 Puebla 9
EAFL 26 Finland 0
Standings:
EAFL 3-0
Puebla 1-2
Finland 1-3