The 1999 IFAF World Championship was the inaugural IFAF World Championship, an international American football championship run by the International Federation of American Football (IFAF). It was played in Palermo, Italy from 24 June to 4 July 1999. The tournament was contested by six nations and was won by Japan.

Participants

Rosters

Finland 1999 IFAF World Championship rosterviewtalkedit
Quarterbacks -- Jarkko Nieminen -- Petri Pekkanen Running Backs -- Mika Ahl -- Jani Puustinen -- Karim Segheir -- Tero Talonen Wide Receivers -- Nikko Olsson -- Mikko Pimminainen -- Jarkko Pippola -- Timo Seppänen Tight ends -- Tommi Padatsu -- Jukka RyynänenOffensive Linemen -- Stefan Andersson -- Patrik Karbin -- Ilkka Katainen -- Jari Lyhty -- Tomi Pirhonen -- Marko Puustinen -- Mikko Sorvali -- Mikko Vento Defensive Linemen -- Seppo Evwaraye DT -- Jose Hakala DE -- Timo Jokela DT -- Ville Kurvinen DE -- Pertti Lautala DT -- Pasi Lautala DT -- Marko Luoma DELinebackers -- Henri Forsberg -- Matti Lottonen -- Kari Lyhty -- Petri Pellinen -- Juhani Salo -- Jarkko Ylätalo Defensive Backs -- Markus Forsberg S -- Matias Forslund S -- Mika Laurila S -- Sebastian Lind CB -- Simo Mahkonen CB -- Jani Pihlman CB -- Jari Savela CB -- Jukka Tahvanainen CB -- Jouni Virta S Special Teams -- Tapio Hentunen P
Italy 1999 IFAF World Championship rosterviewtalkedit
Quarterbacks -- Federico Castellani -- Marcello Lio -- Elvis Taroni Running Backs -- Alessandro Angeloni -- Massimiliano Fagotti FB -- Alessandro Greco -- Cristian Longhi FB -- Carlo Mezzadri FB -- Giosue Rizzuto Wide Receivers -- Christian Costanzo -- Fabio Capodaglio -- Gianluca Mannatrizio -- Matteo Soresini Tight ends -- Massimo VicinelliOffensive Linemen -- Corrado Camerino G -- Emanuele Costanzo C -- Alessandro Dallai G -- Massimo Gertosio T -- Davide Giuliano T -- Placido Massella G -- Stefano Neva C -- Mauro Salvemini T -- Armaldo Sbriccoli C -- Mauro Trombetti T Defensive Linemen -- Luca Bellora DE -- Corrado Camerino DT -- Francesco Fabbri DT -- Fabio Franzini -- Fulvio Rusconi DTLinebackers -- Alessandro Aldrovandi OLB -- Giuseppe Anello MLB -- Claudio Biavati MLB -- Massimiliano Bonomo OLB -- Marco Boscolo OLB -- Ottavio Carnelli OLB -- Diego Gennaro OLB -- Ezio Marone MLB -- Paolo Orofino -- Stefano Paolucci -- Antonio Pauletto OLB Defensive Backs -- Stefano De Giorgi CB -- Davide Donnini CB -- Renato Gargiulo SS -- Paolo Guerini CB -- Enrico Leonardi CB -- Matteo Mantovani CB -- Filippo Piermaria CB -- Marco Polizzi CB -- Jouni Virta S -- Andrea Ventura Special Teams -- Vito Lafata P/K
Mexico 1999 IFAF World Championship rosterviewtalkedit
Quarterbacks 3 Enrique Villanueva 13 Diego Rodríguez 19 Antonio Toro Running Backs 34 Oliver Feria 1 Eduardo Núñez 33 Mauricio Loustaunau 21 Jerónimo Huerta Wide Receivers 88 Héctor Cuervo 80 Sergio Aguilar 5 Mauricio Líbano 12 Víctor Narváez Tight Ends 82 Félix JoanemOffensive Linemen Defensive Linemen 99 Erick Sámano DT 6 Jesús Alfredo Muñoz DELinebackers Defensive Backs 27 Edgar Loyo CB 10 Jesús Medina CB Special Teams 37 Alejandro Barona K 20 Roberto Mendoza P
Sweden 1999 IFAF World Championship rosterviewtalkedit
Quarterbacks -- Hakan Eriksson -- Martin Hejdesten -- Martin Wiman Running Backs -- Kaj Dyrvold -- Lars Gustafsson -- Eric Hakansson -- Rachid Karlsson -- Niklas Karlsson Wide Receivers -- Joel Andersson -- Henrik Eriksson -- Benny Granqvist -- Mattias Hejdesten -- Yohan Ohlsson -- Johan Perlstrom Tight ends -- Ola Olsson -- Mikael TagelOffensive Linemen -- Carl-Johan Blomwall -- Magnus Dahlin -- Ted Hagberg -- Michael Jonsson -- Tomas Lohr -- Sighsten Lundqvist -- Bjorn Marcusson -- Marten Persson Defensive Linemen -- Andreas Blomquist -- Jorgen Lejon -- Dann Petersson -- Richard Rosenholtz -- Peter Rundberg -- Ola Schon -- Kristian Stenshamn -- Jonas Svan -- Anders TiblingLinebackers -- Martin Janzon -- Giacomo La Cerva -- Kristian Lonnesjo -- Marcus Miramahdi -- Stefan Skoldeback -- Brian Vilborg Defensive Backs -- Mikael Berg -- Andreas Ekholm -- Mats Eriksson -- Magnus Kullenberg -- Lars Leksell -- Peter Raicevic -- Eric Saeden -- Richard Trincas Special Teams -- Ola Kimrin K

Group stage

Group A

TeamPldWLPFPA
Mexico2201430
Italy2112861
Finland2027117
Quarter1234Total
Italy777728
Finland07007
  • Date: June 24
Quarter1234Total
Mexico243582289
Finland00000
  • Date: June 27
Quarter1234Total
Mexico217121454
Italy00000
  • Date: June 30

Group B

TeamPldWLPFPA
Japan2207814
Sweden2113630
Australia202676
Quarter1234Total
Sweden736622
Australia06006
  • Date: June 25
Quarter1234Total
Japan777324
Sweden0014014
  • Date: June 28
Quarter1234Total
Japan1416141054
Australia00000
  • Date: July 1

Fifth place match

Quarter1234Total
Australia0001010
Finland07007

Third place match

Quarter1234Total
Sweden101331238
Italy067013
  • Date: July 3

Final

Quarter1234OTTotal
Japan000066
Mexico000000
  • Date: July 4

Both teams entered the gold medal game undefeated in group play. The Mexico defense had not allowed any points, shutting out their two previous opponents, and the Mexican offense was impressive in beating Finland 89-0 (the most points ever in an IFAF Tournament game) and Italy 54-0. The Championship Game was a defensive struggle, with both teams committing turnovers (5 by Mexico, 2 by Japan), and for the first time in the tournament, Mexico did not score a point in any quarter. Japan held a slight advantage in total yards gained (233 to Mexico's 198). In overtime, Japan scored first on 5 yard pass from Sunaga to Abe. The extra point kick was wide, and Japan led 6-0. As they had all game, the Japanese defense kept Mexico out of the endzone, sealing the victory for Japan.

Winner

1999 IFAF World Cup winners
JAPAN First title

Statistics

PosTeamGamesWinLosePoints forPoints againstDifference
1Japan3308414+70
2Mexico3211436+137
3Sweden3217443+31
4Italy3124199-58
5Australia3121683-67
6Finland30314127-113

38°09′10″N 13°20′33″E/38.15278°N 13.34250°E/ 38.15278; 13.34250