Ljubljana Frogs /Internal Prep Pack/v3 · 4 Aug 2026
WC26 Düsseldorf Field Guide
IFAF Flag Football World Championship · 13–16 August 2026 · Garath Complex · 3 fields DAZN global · free to view in 200+ markets · RTL+ in DACH · top 2 per gender → LA28
Internal use onlyMen's programme onlyv3 · 4 Aug 2026
Overview
The field at a glance
Sixteen nations, four groups, 20,736 possible knockout brackets. World rankings, group breakdown and the numbers worth dropping on air.
Key numbers
20,736Possible knockout brackets still live12⁴ — our calc
5Consecutive world titles for the United StatesUSA Football
53–21The 2024 world final. USA over Austria, LahtiVerified
41–35Switzerland over Mexico, 2024 bronze. Ranked 14th going inVerified
13–12Nigeria over Egypt, Africa's first title. One XP in itVerified
3–0France over Great Britain all-time — richest rivalry in this drawAFI / IFAF
+48%Growth in ranked national teams in 3 yearsIFAF
+8Australia's world ranking jump — biggest mover in top 20IFAF Nov 2025
World rankings — men's field
IFAF world ranking · Nov 2025 draw seeding · 16 teams stamped on a 100-yard field · medal endzone ← seeded ← unseeded → bye field
Medal EZ
Bye field
102030405040302010
Group AGroup BGroup CGroup D
Group thumbnail
Group AUSA · Australia · Israel · American Samoa
Champions + the unknowns. USA have won five straight. Australia jumped 8 places after winning Asia-Oceania. Israel score 50 a game. American Samoa won their first-ever international and then won a medal game. 4 of 6 group pairings are first-ever meetings.
"On paper this is the USA and everyone else. On grass, Australia haven't lost a game that mattered in a year."
Group BAustria · Japan · Canada · Nigeria
Silver medallists and a trap. Austria are world #2 and lost the last two finals they reached. Japan live in one-score games. Canada beat the world champions in a 2025 friendly. Nigeria are Africa's first-ever champions, debutants at this level.
"Austria are seeded to win this comfortably. Japan have lost their last two big games by four points and one point. Comfortable isn't the word."
Group C — the hard oneMexico · Switzerland · Germany · Brazil
Group of death. Two very good teams go to the Bowl bracket. Mexico are world #3. Switzerland are the reigning world bronze medallists. Germany are the hosts, ranked 11th. Brazil are ranked 17th. Somebody very good goes home early.
"Somebody very good loses this group. The host nation is one of the candidates."
Group DItaly · France · Great Britain · Panama
Europe's champion and Europe's bronze in the same group. Italy won Euro 2025. France took bronze. Great Britain are seeded 12th and are better than that — they won their group at the last World Championship. Panama took world bronze in 2021.
"Two thirds of the European podium is in one group. Panama won a world medal five years ago. This is not a soft draw."
The three stories — plant Day 1, pay off Day 3
Story 1 · Plant Day 1 · Pays off Day 3 morning
The 2024 world final can become a Day 3 quarterfinal. Under the A1×B2 / B1×A2 crossover, USA v Austria is a QF whenever the two teams land in complementary top-2 slots — USA=A1 with Austria=B2, or USA=A2 with Austria=B1. Two of the eight top-2 finishing combinations, or 12.5% of the possible bracket.
"Watch the top of Group A and Group B. Whenever the USA and Austria finish in opposite slots — one first, the other second — the last world final becomes a quarterfinal. One of the two best teams on earth is out before the medal rounds start."
Story 2 · The rematch that can only be a medal game
Switzerland v Mexico can only meet in the final or bronze game. Both are in Group C, which puts them in opposite halves. The 2024 bronze rematch — Switzerland 41–35 — cannot happen any earlier.
"If you want that rematch, you have to wait until Sunday. The draw won't give it to you any earlier."
Story 3 · The host in the hardest group
Germany open a home World Championship in the group of death, twelve months after losing to debutant Slovenia and missing the European quarterfinals. They arrive seeded 11th.
"This is either the redemption story of the week or it's over by Friday."
Fixtures
Match schedule — 13–16 Aug 2026
Four competition days · three fields · times in CEST (UTC+2). Group stage runs Thursday–Friday; knockouts and Bowl bracket on Saturday; medal games and placements on Sunday. Tap a day to switch. Team codes match the head-to-head matrix — AUS is Australia, AUT is Austria.
Group AGroup BGroup CGroup DKnockouts · SF · medalsBowl bracket (9th–16th)TBD / placement · fills after results
Sources: IFAF WC26 organising committee schedule (as of 4 Aug 2026). Sunday medal games (Final 18:00 · Bronze 15:30 · both Field 1) are locked; classification-round times on Sat/Sun fill after Day 2 group results. QF pairings on Saturday are set by the bracket rules — see the Bracket engine. Group C double-header on Thursday reflects three teams playing twice on Day 1.
Live tool
Bracket engine
Set the group finishing order. Quarterfinals and Bowl bracket populate instantly. Amber ties have documented head-to-head history.
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Semifinal · Top half · 19:15
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Semifinal · Bottom half · 19:15
Top-half semifinal winner
Bottom-half semifinal winner
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Final · Day 4 · 18:00 · Field 1
Top half
v
Bottom half
Bronze · Day 4 · 15:30 · Field 1
Bowl bracket · 9th–16th place
The three bracket rules
Rule 1 — Group A only draws Group B. Group C only draws Group D. No crossover before the semis.
Rule 2 — Every semifinal is an A/B team against a C/D team. Guaranteed.
Rule 3 — Two teams from the same group can't meet again until the final or the bronze game.
Research
Head-to-head — by group
Men's flag football only. Women's, youth, tackle and American football results are excluded. ● documented (score in a text source) · ● bracket-derived or margin-only · ● never met or no record.
Head-to-head matrix — all 16 teams
All documented results · W=win D=draw L=loss · hover or tab through for context
Win (documented)Loss (documented)Split / multiple meetingsNever met / no record
Group A USA · Australia · Israel · American Samoa
USA — AustraliaNever met
IFAF confirms first-ever meeting in Düsseldorf.
USA — IsraelUSA 1–0 · score not found
Date
Event
Round
Result
Aug 2018
IFAF WC · Panama City
Quarterfinal
USA won — exact score not published
USA — American SamoaNever met
American Samoa debuted in IFAF competition at the 2025 Asia-Oceania Championship.
Australia — IsraelNever met
Confirmed first-ever meeting per IFAF preview.
Australia — American Samoa ★AUS 2–0
Date
Event
Round
Score
Oct 2025
IFAF Asia-Oceania · Ningbo
Oceania pool
AUS 41–12 ASA
Oct 2025
IFAF Asia-Oceania · Ningbo
Oceania pool
AUS 24–18 ASA
Israel — American SamoaNever met
No prior meeting.
Group B Austria · Japan · Canada · Nigeria
Austria — JapanNo documented meeting
No men's meeting found in the 2018–2025 record.
Austria — CanadaNo documented meeting
Both have long World Championship histories but no documented men's meeting in retrievable sources.
Austria — NigeriaNever met
Nigeria are a 2026 World Championship debutant.
Japan — CanadaNo documented meeting
No men's meeting found in the 2018–2025 record.
Japan — NigeriaNever met
First-ever meeting. Nigeria debut.
Canada — NigeriaNever met
First-ever meeting. Nigeria debut.
Group C Mexico · Switzerland · Germany · Brazil
Mexico — Switzerland ★SUI 1–0
Date
Event
Round
Score
Aug 2024
IFAF WC · Lahti
Bronze medal game
SUI 41–35 MEX · scored in final seconds, stopped last pass on the buzzer
The rematch can only happen in the final or bronze game in Düsseldorf — same group means opposite bracket halves.
Mexico — GermanyNo documented meeting
No men's meeting found despite both having long World Championship histories.
Mexico — BrazilNo documented meeting
Kept in separate pools at both 2023 and 2025 IFAF Americas championships.
Switzerland — GermanyNo documented meeting
No documented men's meeting in retrievable sources.
Switzerland — BrazilNo documented meeting · likely never met
No meeting found at any IFAF event.
Germany — BrazilNo documented meeting
No meeting found despite both having World Championship appearances.
Group D Italy · France · Great Britain · Panama
Italy — FranceFRA 1–0
Date
Event
Round
Score
2005
IFAF European Championship · Finland
Final
FRA 24–7 ITA
Note the reversal: Italy are the 2025 European champions, having beaten Austria 27–19 in Paris.
Italy — Great BritainPossible 1 meeting — 2025 Euro SF (score unknown)
The four 2025 Euro Flag men's semifinalists were Austria, Italy, France and GB. Which pair met is unresolved in accessible sources.
Italy — PanamaPAN probably 1–0 (score unknown)
At the 2021 World Championship, Panama took bronze and Italy finished fourth — implying Panama beat Italy in the bronze game. Inference only, no published score.
France — Great Britain ★ Best rivalry in the drawFRA 3–0
Date
Event
Round
Score
Margin
Sep 2023
IFAF Euro Flag · Limerick
Group B
FRA 39–35 GBR
+4
Aug 2024
IFAF WC · Lahti
Round of 16
FRA 37–36 GBR
+1
Sep 2025
IFAF Euro Flag · Paris
Bronze medal game
FRA 34–20 GBR
+14
The richest rivalry in this draw. Three meetings in three years, France unbeaten, two of the three in elimination/medal games. No earlier meetings found.
France — PanamaNo documented meeting
No meeting found.
Great Britain — PanamaNever met
AFI confirms Panama "avoided a match-up with GB during the last World Championship." First-ever meeting.
Cross-group knockout pairings — A×B and C×D
Group A × Group B (possible QFs)
USA — Austria ★USA 4–0
Date
Event
Score
Aug 2018
IFAF WC group
USA 38–24
Aug 2018
IFAF WC final
USA 19–13
Jul 2022
World Games · Birmingham SF
USA 54–19
Aug 2024
IFAF WC · Lahti final
USA 53–21
USA — CanadaSplit 1–1
Date
Event
Score
Sep 2023
IFAF Americas group
USA 36–12 CAN
2025
International friendly
Canada won — score not traced
Two documented meetings, one apiece. The 2025 result is the last one before Düsseldorf.
Australia — AustriaAUT 1–0
Date
Event
Score
Aug 2024
IFAF WC · Lahti R16
AUT 28–26 AUS
Australia — Japan ★ Tied 1–1Split
Date
Event
Score
Oct 2023
Asia-Oceania · KL group
JPN 20–12 AUS
Oct 2025
Asia-Oceania · Ningbo final
AUS 23–19 JPN
One of only three 1–1 all-time series in this draw — the others are Switzerland–Italy and Canada–Panama. The Ningbo rematch was a continental final; that's what makes this one carry.
Israel — CanadaCAN 1–0
Date
Event
Score
Aug 2024
IFAF WC · Lahti R16
CAN 46–38 ISR
Israel — AustriaAUT 2–0 · scores unknown
Two documented meetings at 2023 Euro Limerick — same group stage, then Austria eliminated Israel in knockouts. No scores retrieved for either leg.
Group C × Group D (possible QFs)
Switzerland — ItalySplit 1–1
Date
Event
Score
Dec 2021
IFAF WC · Jerusalem group
ITA 39–6 SUI
Sep 2025
Euro Flag · Paris Group D
SUI 32–30 ITA
Switzerland — FranceFRA 1–0
Date
Event
Score
Sep 2025
Euro Flag · Paris QF
FRA 42–36 SUI
Switzerland — PanamaSUI 1–0 · margin only
Date
Event
Score
Aug 2024
IFAF WC · Lahti R16
SUI won by 7 pts — exact score not published
Germany — ItalyITA 1–0
Date
Event
Score
Aug 2024
IFAF WC · Lahti R16
ITA 48–26 GER
Germany — FranceFRA 1–0
Date
Event
Score
2007
IFAF European Championship final
FRA 19–0 GER
Germany — Great BritainGBR 1–0
Date
Event
Score
Aug 2024
IFAF WC · Lahti group
GBR 34–20 GER
Mexico — PanamaMEX 1–0
Date
Event
Score
Sep 2023
IFAF Americas · Charlotte group
MEX 34–24 PAN
Dossiers
All sixteen nations
Tap to expand. Rankings per IFAF Nov 2025 seeding.
Radar — key dimensions
Group AGroup BGroup CGroup D
Group A
#1United StatesGrp A
Titles
World champions 2010, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2021, 2024 — five straight.
2024 Lahti
7–0. Group 158–45. Beat Switzerland 45–6 (SF), Austria 53–21 (final).
2025
Joint Americas champions with Mexico — final abandoned due to lightning.
Roster
Aamir Brown · Velton Brown Jr. · Isaiah Calhoun · Nico Casares · Antonio Coleman · Mike Daniels · Tyler "TD" Davis · Darrell "Housh" Doucette III (QB) · Ja'Deion High · Justin McMullen · Laderrick "Pablo" Smith · Shawn Theard Jr.
HC
Jorge Cascudo · Asst Willy Perez, Rudy Fernandez
The read: Nobody has beaten them at a World Championship since 2008. The question isn't whether they win the group, it's whether anyone in Europe has closed the 53–21 gap.
#8AustraliaGrp A
2025
Won every game at Asia-Oceania. Beat American Samoa 41–12 and 24–18, beat Japan 23–19 in the final.
Ranking
+8 places to world #8 — biggest annual jump in the top 20.
2024
Lost to Austria 28–26 in the R16. Finished 15th.
HC
Drew Aumavae. Roster not published at cut-off.
The read: Most improved team in the field, drawn straight into the group with the world champions. A European scalp in the QF is not out of the question.
#9IsraelGrp A
2025
5–0 in Euro group — 52–46 over France. IFAF: "free-scoring." Finished fifth.
2024
Won Lahti group 2–0, lost to Canada 46–38 in R16. Finished 9th.
HC
Not publicly announced.
Staff
Captain/DB Daniel Eastman. Roster not published.
The read: The highest-scoring team nobody talks about. They put 52 on the eventual European bronze medallists and went home in the R16.
#33American SamoaGrp A
2025
Won first-ever IFAF game 40–35 over New Zealand (2023 silver). Bronze with 41–34 over hosts China.
HC
Not publicly announced.
Context
First World Championship appearance. Roster not published.
The read: Ranked 33rd, drawn with the world champions. Nobody in Düsseldorf has film on them.
Group B
#2AustriaGrp B
Titles
World champions 2002, 2004, 2012. Runners-up 2024. Euro silver 2025.
2025
5–0 in Euro group (207 pts for, 80 against, incl. 33–31 over GB). Lost final to Italy 27–19.
Key player
QB Felix Wasshuber (captain). Luis Effenberger — the 2025 Euro squad's QB — is injured and moved to a video-analyst role for WC26, not on the active 12.
HC
Michael Salamon. Final 12 confirmed.
The read: World number two and the nearly-team of the last two cycles. Dominate group play, lose the game that decides it.
#7JapanGrp B
2025
Asia title. Beat China 40–39 to reach the Asia-Oceania final, lost 23–19 to Australia.
2024
Won Lahti group 3–0 (112–50, incl. 27–25 over France). Finished 11th.
#2 Guillaume Beland (CB, capt) · #3 James Drysdale · #4 Jackson Tachinski · #5 Émile Chênevert · #8 Antony Auclair (capt, ex-NFL) · #11 François Rocheleau · #13 Philippe Pharand · #15 Michael O'Connor (QB) · #21 Anthony Brisebois · #22 Maxym Lavallée (capt) · #23 Daniel Petermann · #24 Marc-Antoine Dequoy (ex-All-CFL)
HC
Paul LaPolice (former CFL head coach)
The read: One of only four teams in this field ever to hold a men's world title (USA, Austria, France, Canada) — and the only one that beat the reigning world champions in a 2025 friendly. Ranked tenth, which feels low.
#32NigeriaGrp B
2025
Won inaugural IFAF Africa Flag Championship, Cairo, 21 Jun 2025. Beat hosts Egypt 13–12 on a successful XP play. QB Hayes Obinna-Uzoh: "It's history. It's unbelievable."
Staff
HC Ephraim Fagha Faloughi. Squad from Showtime Flag Football League. Roster not published.
The read: Africa's first continental champions, in the first cycle Africa had a berth at all. Ranked 32nd because they've barely played ranked opposition.
Group C
#3MexicoGrp C
Titles
World runners-up 2014 and 2021.
2024
Won Lahti group 3–0 (188 pts for, 39 against, incl. 50–27 over Australia). Lost bronze game 41–35 to Switzerland.
2025
Joint Americas champions with USA.
Roster (confirmed · @victor_balderramos Instagram · 3 Aug 2026)
#1 Diego Arvizu (QB) · #3 Damián Chirinos (WR) · #4 Santiago Medina (WR) · #10 Víctor Balderramos (QB) · #12 Cristopher Cardona (WR) · #14 Alberto Villegas (C) · #19 Guillermo Villalobos (WR) · #21 Javier Vivián (DB) · #23 Alonso Gaxiola (DB) · #24 Demian Valdez (R) · #26 Santiago Vargas (DB) · #28 Luis Jaramillo (DB)
HC
Not publicly announced.
Note
Two quarterbacks named: Diego Arvizu (#1) and Víctor Balderramos (#10). Balderramos is the poster of the roster announcement — likely team captain or starter.
The read: The second-best team in the Americas for a decade. Lahti was the first time they didn't make the podium. The bronze-game loss to Switzerland is the defining story of this group.
#6SwitzerlandGrp C
2024
Ranked 14th going into Lahti. Beat Mexico 41–35 in the bronze game, scoring in the final seconds. Rose to #7.
2025
Beat Italy 32–30 (group) and France 42–36 (QF) at Euro Flag — still didn't reach the semifinals. Finished fifth.
Roster (confirmed · Instagram · Aug 2026)
Harvey Bay (QB) · Leon Auf der Maur (QB) · Claudio Ferrari (DB) · Nolan O'Leary (WR) · Lukas Ruoss (DB) · Tim Vogler (WR) · Linus Krummenacher (DB) · Marcandrea Hunkeler (DB) · Noah Auf der Maur (WR) · Leandro Wälti (WR) · Fabian Bruhin (DB) · Jamiro Jenni (DB)
HC
Not publicly announced.
Note
Two QBs: Harvey Bay and Leon Auf der Maur. Claudio Ferrari (DB) confirmed — the 2024 bronze hero who said "This is absolutely surreal, no one believed we could do it." Noah and Leon Auf der Maur — brothers on the same squad.
The read: Beat Mexico for a world medal and Italy on the way to nothing. The Auf der Maur brothers on the same squad is the story within the story. Switzerland are the team most likely to ruin somebody's tournament.
#11GermanyGrp C · Host
Titles
World runners-up 2002, 2004. Euro champions 2023.
2025
IFAF called them world #4 going into Euro Flag. Lost 36–30 to debutant Slovenia, 33–32 to Denmark — missed the QF. Arrive seeded 11th.
Roster (confirmed · afvd.de · 1 Aug 2026)
#14 Philipp Klein (QB) · #23 Benjamin Klever (QB) · #2 Moritz Kulenovic · #8 Malik Al-Kahlout · #10 Ben Fröhlich · #11 Jermaine Enyiagu · #12 Moritz Apfel · #13 Junior Nkmenbi-Asel · #19 Luca Bultmann · #21 Fabian Achenbach · #22 Keanu Peukert · #25 Ramón Seifert · Res: Leßmann · Carta · Hack
HC
Said Salazar Deciga · DC Conrad Dietel · OC Alann Salas Olmedo
The read: Seven-place fall in one tournament, now hosting a World Championship from the group of death. Two of Mexico, Switzerland, Germany and Brazil go to the Bowl bracket.
#17BrazilGrp C
2024
Third in Lahti group: lost 52–6 to USA, 32–19 to Spain; beat Serbia 26–19.
2025
Fifth in the Americas, taking the last continental berth. Backed by record Brazilian Olympic Committee investment for LA28.
HC
Not publicly announced.
The read: The lowest-ranked team in the toughest group. Playing for ranking points and the Bowl bracket.
Group D
#4ItalyGrp D
Titles
European champions 2025 — first men's continental title at the fifth attempt. World bronze 2010, 2014.
2025
Beat Austria 27–19 in Paris. QB Luke Zahradka (Euro final MVP) threw three TDs to Vinny Papale in that final.
Roster reportedly announced on Instagram — not retrieved. Do not name players without on-site confirmation.
The read: Most consistent European side without ever quite topping anything. 3–0 against GB, the team directly below them in this group.
#12Great BritainGrp D
2024
Won Lahti group 3–0 (114–58) — beat Germany 34–20. Lost to France 37–36 in R16.
2025
4–1 in Euro group (lost 33–31 to Austria). Reached Euro semifinals, lost bronze 34–20 to France. Finished fourth.
Roster (confirmed · Instagram · Aug 2026)
Christian Strong (QB) · Enrique Aspinall (DB) · Spencer Brown (C) · Andrew "AJ" Carr (WR) · Joe Cotterill (WR) · Oliver Dyer (DB) · Liam Harper (Blitz) · David McInally (DB) · Ben Schneller (WR) · Jayden Smith (DB) · Luke Sweeney (WR) · Darius Frost Williams (DB)
HC
Nick Keyse ("KACE") · Team manager Paul Labbett
Note
"Blitz" position for Liam Harper is a specialist rusher/blitzer role — the pass-rusher in flag football. Unique to note for commentary.
The read: Seeded 12th and better than that. Won their group at the last World Championship. France have beaten them three times, each in a more important game than the last. That sequence ends here or it doesn't.
#13PanamaGrp D
Titles
World bronze 2021 in Jerusalem. Americas bronze 2023.
2025
Hosted Americas in Penonomé, finished fourth — lost bronze 32–22 to Canada.
HC
Ivan Orozco (2025). Roster not published.
The read: A world bronze medallist five years ago, fourth in their own continent last year. The trend is not their friend.
Squads
Roster status — 4 Aug 2026
Green = confirmed final · Amber = preliminary or partial · Red = not published. Do not name players from red entries on air.
Men's roster publication status · WC26 Düsseldorf
Grp
Team
Rk
Status
Head coach
Key QB
A
United States
1
Final 12 + 6 alt
Jorge Cascudo
Darrell "Housh" Doucette III
A
Australia
8
Not published
Drew Aumavae
—
A
Israel
9
Not published
—
—
A
American Samoa
33
Not published
—
—
B
Austria
2
Final 12 confirmed
Michael Salamon
Felix Wasshuber (capt.)
B
Japan
7
Final 12 + 2 res
Ayumu Iwai
Takehito Taniguchi (#4)
B
Canada
10
Final 12
Paul LaPolice
Michael O'Connor (#15)
B
Nigeria
32
Not published
Ephraim Fagha Faloughi
—
C
Mexico
3
Final 12 confirmed
—
Diego Arvizu / Víctor Balderramos (#10)
C
Switzerland
6
Final 12 confirmed
—
Harvey Bay / Leon Auf der Maur
C
Germany
Host
Final 12 + 3 res
Said Salazar Deciga
Klein (#14) / Klever (#23)
C
Brazil
17
Not published
—
—
D
Italy
4
18-man camp (not final 12)
Massimiliano Bonomo
Luke Zahradka
D
France
5
Final 12 (names only, no numbers/positions)
—
—
D
Great Britain
12
Final 12 confirmed
Nick Keyse
Christian Strong (QB)
D
Panama
13
Final 12 (numbers, no positions)
Ivan Orozco (2025)
—
France and Panama — names supplied, not yet official-source verified
Twelve names each for France and Panama below, supplied 4 Aug 2026. Neither carries an official-source citation the way Germany/Canada/Japan do — France has no numbers or positions at all, Panama has numbers but no positions. Confirm both against the team liaison on site before naming players on air.
Confirmed roster: Austria (football.at / AFBÖ · 4 Aug 2026)
Austria
Confirmed
Felix Wasshuber (QB, capt.) · Sebastian Wolf (capt.) · Valentin Ehrenfried · Leonhard Gerner · Felix Goldmann · Maximilian Hillebrand · Daniel Kindl · Simon Knoll · Paul Schachner · Philipp Straka · Martin Stur · David Tescher HC: Michael Salamon
Effenberger is not playing
QB Luis Effenberger — the 2025 Euro squad's starter, previously the read on this team — is injured and has moved to a video-analyst role for WC26. Benedikt Wolf, also from the Euro squad, is in the same non-playing situation per AFBÖ. Neither is on the active 12 above; do not name them as players on air.
Confirmed roster: Germany (afvd.de · 1 Aug 2026)
Germany
Confirmed
#14 Philipp Klein (QB) · #23 Benjamin Klever (QB) · #2 Moritz Kulenovic (S) · #8 Malik Al-Kahlout (WR) · #10 Ben Fröhlich (WR) · #11 Jermaine Enyiagu (WR) · #12 Moritz Apfel (S) · #13 Junior Nkmenbi-Asel (CB) · #19 Luca Bultmann (CB) · #21 Fabian Achenbach (C/WR/DB/R) · #22 Keanu Peukert (C/WR) · #25 Ramón Seifert (R) Reserves: Sebastian Leßmann · Raphael Carta · Theo Hack Staff: Said Salazar Deciga (HC) · Conrad Dietel (DC) · Alann Salas Olmedo (OC) · Omari Williams (Def Asst) · Andreas Hufer (Team Mgr) · Torsten Grom (Chef de Mission)
Aamir Brown (S/DB) · Velton Brown Jr. (WR) · Isaiah Calhoun (DB/LB) · Nico Casares (QB) · Antonio Coleman (QB) · Mike Daniels (DB/S) · Tyler "TD" Davis (WR/DB) · Darrell "Housh" Doucette III (QB) · Ja'Deion High (WR/C) · Justin McMullen (DB/S) · Laderrick "Pablo" Smith (Ath) · Shawn Theard Jr. (Ath/Rush) Alt: Dan Blair Jr. · Jorge Cascudo Jr. · Laval Davis · Johnluis "Lulu" Hernandez · Lennox Howard · D'ionte "Boo" Smith HC: Jorge Cascudo · Asst: Willy Perez, Rudy Fernandez
Preliminary squad: Italy — 18-man camp (final 12 not confirmed)
Italy
Preliminary · 18-man camp only
Simone Alinovi · Leonardo Barzan · Henry Joseph Blackburn · Jordan Bouah · Piero Bressan · Claudio Corrado · Andrea Fantin · Michelangelo Franchi · Matteo Galante · Daniele Latorraca · Paolo Lazzaretto · Eugenio Mannato · Riccardo Petrilli · Raffaele Rotelli · Tamsir Seck · Frank Albert Stola · Andrea Volonnino · Luke Zahradka (QB, Euro final MVP) · HC: Massimiliano Bonomo
Do not assume Vinny Papale is playing
WR Vincent "Vinny" Papale is NOT in the July camp squad. His status for the final 12 is unknown. Confirm on site.
Confirmed roster: Mexico (@victor_balderramos · Instagram · 3 Aug 2026)
Mexico
Confirmed
#1 Diego Arvizu (QB) · #3 Damián Chirinos (WR) · #4 Santiago Medina (WR) · #10 Víctor Balderramos (QB) · #12 Cristopher Cardona (WR) · #14 Alberto Villegas (C) · #19 Guillermo Villalobos (WR) · #21 Javier Vivián (DB) · #23 Alonso Gaxiola (DB) · #24 Demian Valdez (R — rusher) · #26 Santiago Vargas (DB) · #28 Luis Jaramillo (DB) ★ Two QBs: Arvizu (#1) and Balderramos (#10). Balderramos is the team's Instagram voice and likely starter.
Confirmed roster: Switzerland (Instagram · Aug 2026)
Switzerland
Confirmed
Harvey Bay (QB) · Leon Auf der Maur (QB) · Claudio Ferrari (DB) · Nolan O'Leary (WR) · Lukas Ruoss (DB) · Tim Vogler (WR) · Linus Krummenacher (DB) · Marcandrea Hunkeler (DB) · Noah Auf der Maur (WR) · Leandro Wälti (WR) · Fabian Bruhin (DB) · Jamiro Jenni (DB) ★ Noah & Leon Auf der Maur are brothers — both starting in the same WC26 squad · Claudio Ferrari (DB) is the 2024 bronze hero
Confirmed roster: Great Britain (Instagram · Aug 2026)
Great Britain
Confirmed
Christian Strong (QB) · Enrique Aspinall (DB) · Spencer Brown (C) · Andrew "AJ" Carr (WR) · Joe Cotterill (WR) · Oliver Dyer (DB) · Liam Harper (Blitz — specialist pass-rusher) · David McInally (DB) · Ben Schneller (WR) · Jayden Smith (DB) · Luke Sweeney (WR) · Darius Frost Williams (DB) HC: Nick Keyse ("KACE") · Team manager Paul Labbett ★ "Blitz" is a specialist position in flag football — a designated pass-rusher. One of the few squads in the field naming it explicitly.
Squad: Panama (supplied · 4 Aug 2026 · source not cited)
Panama
Numbers only · positions unconfirmed
#82 César Aguilera · #2 Dennis Allen · #7 Jorge Avila · #23 Carlos De La Rosa · #10 Jayson Jaen · #6 Juan Julio · #25 José Mexil · #24 Félix Olivares · #88 Hugo Prepville · #28 Gaspar Ramos · #9 Adrian Roux · #3 Jorge Vasquez HC: Ivan Orozco (2025)
No official-source citation
Twelve names and numbers, no positions, no publisher cited. Treat as a working list — confirm with the team liaison before naming anyone on air.
Squad: France (supplied · 4 Aug 2026 · source not cited)
France
Names only · numbers & positions unconfirmed
Damien Sabatino · Sullivan Silverio · Tanguy Lominet · Camille Thouary · Anthony Mahoungou Le Moigne · Stéphane Fortes · Mathias Ciocan · Wadjihe Said · Scott Harrison · Kaïss Hamidi · Widmaël Petion · Jordan Laviolette HC: not published
No numbers, no positions, no source
Twelve names, nothing else — the thinnest-sourced squad in the field. Do not guess a QB or any position from this list. Confirm with the team liaison on site.
On air
Broadcast guide
Say-this blocks, hard stops, contingency scripts and pronunciation.
Hard stops — do not say
Format — most common error
No quarters. Two 20-minute halves. Never say "first quarter", "third quarter". Say "first half", "second half", "midway through the second".
Name
Great Britain's head coach is Nick Keyse — "KACE", not "Keysey". Source: BAFA's own personnel register.
2025 Americas
USA and Mexico were declared joint champions. The final was never played — lightning stopped it. Never say USA "beat" Mexico in 2025. There was no result.
Unverified scores
Canada beat the USA in a 2025 friendly — score not traced. Say they won; don't invent a scoreline. Australia's 23–19 over Japan is bracket-derived — attribute as "reported".
Contingency scripts
IF · USA v Austria comes out of the QF draw
"This is the gold medal game from Lahti, two years early. The USA lead Austria 4–0 in every documented meeting — the 2018 group stage 38–24, the 2018 final 19–13, the 2022 World Games semi 54–19, and last time out 53–21. The last two were routs — more than four scores in each. Austria have never solved them, and now the loser doesn't even get a medal."
IF · Germany go out in the group
"The host nation is out, and it was always the most likely outcome of the hardest group in the tournament. Two of Mexico, Switzerland, Germany and Brazil were always going to the Bowl bracket. That doesn't make it any easier to watch from a German bench."
IF · a low seed upsets a top-four side
"This is what happened in Lahti. Switzerland arrived ranked fourteenth and left with a bronze medal, having beaten Mexico 41–35 with a score in the last seconds. Two years later they're ranked sixth. That's how fast this sport re-sorts itself."
IF · Australia or Israel reach the semis
"Neither of these nations has ever medalled at a World Championship. Australia climbed eight places in a year. Israel put 52 points on the eventual European bronze medallists and still went home in the quarterfinals. One of them just rewrote their federation's next four years."
IF · Nigeria or American Samoa win a game
"Understand what you just watched. Nigeria won Africa's first-ever continental title by a single extra point, 13–12 over Egypt, in the first cycle Africa had a place at this tournament at all. American Samoa won their first-ever international match. Nobody here has film on either of them."
Post-show close
If the USA win
"Seven world titles, six straight since 2014. They go to Los Angeles as the team everyone has two years to solve."
If anyone else wins
"The United States have won five consecutive world championships. Nobody has taken one off them in over a decade. Whoever just did it changed what the next two years look like — the assumption that Los Angeles is a foregone conclusion just died on this field."
The LA28 close — use every time
"Two men's teams and two women's teams leave here qualified for the Olympic Games. That's it. Third place is a medal and a two-year wait."
Pronunciation guide — confirm with team liaison at accreditation
Nick KeyseKACEGB head coach — not "Keysey"
Darrell Doucettedoo-SET — "Housh"USA QB
Jorge CascudoHOR-hay kas-KOO-doUSA head coach
Laderrick Smithluh-DERR-ick — "Pablo"USA
Felix WasshuberFAY-lix VAS-hoo-berAustria QB, captain — confirm on site
Michael SalamonMEE-khah-el SAL-ah-monAustria HC
Said Salazar Decigasah-EED sal-ah-SAR deh-SEE-gaGermany HC
Moritz KulenovicMO-rits koo-LEN-o-vitchGermany — confirm
Massimiliano Bonomomah-see-meel-YAH-no bo-NO-moItaly HC
Hayes Obinna-Uzohoh-BIN-ah OO-zohNigeria QB
Ephraim Fagha FaloughiEFF-ray-im FAH-ga fah-LOO-gheeNigeria HC — confirm
Düsseldorf-GarathDUESS-el-dorf GAH-rahtVenue
Pick-em · Play
Nostradamus — call every game
Predict all 42 fixtures — group stage, Bowl bracket, knockouts and medal games. The competitor with the most correct calls at the end of Sunday takes the goodie bag. Group-stage picks are real teams; Day 3–4 picks are seed slots (A1 vs B2 etc.) — you're calling who advances into each slot.
Rules · Prize · Deadline
1Ljubljana Frogs goodie bag to the leader after the Final on Sunday 16 August. Ties broken by (i) most correct Final pick, (ii) closest medal-round margin, (iii) coin toss on air.
Picks lock at kickoff of each game — you can revise anything you haven't yet seen play. One entry per handle. Picks are saved to this browser as you go; nothing is submitted until you hit Submit picks at the bottom.
0
of 42 games picked
Leaderboard opens once a live backend is wired (Supabase in the pipeline). Right now every browser stores its own picks locally, so you can prototype your read on the tournament and lock it in as many times as you like — nothing is transmitted anywhere.
When wired: each submission POSTs to submitPicks({ name, picks }); leaderboard reads the same table. Function stub is in the script — swap the fetch URL and you're live.
Ljubljana Frogs · WC26 Field Guide v3 · 4 August 2026 · Internal use only — not for publication.
Design system: Ljubljana Frogs Brand System v2.0 (dark-team theme · TT Bluescreens/Montserrat/mono). Sources: IFAF (americanfootball.sport), 2024 IFAF WC Lahti, 2025 continental championships (Euro Flag, IFAF Americas, Asia-Oceania, Africa), USA Football, Football Canada (footballcanada.com), JAFA (americanfootball.jp), AFVD (afvd.de), FIDAF, BAFA, DAZN Group (21 May 2026), worldflag26.com. Men's flag football only throughout. Open items before broadcast: (1) France and Panama rosters have names but no cited official source — get both from team liaison on site (France also needs numbers and positions). (2) Italy final 12 — confirm whether Vinny Papale is included. (3) Confirm QF numbering convention with IFAF media desk.
