While the United States and Mexico were preparing to battle for the men’s IFAF Americas continental crown last summer and Panama and Canada competed for the bronze medal, three South American rivals fought for regional supremacy in the quest for fifth place.
Argentina, Brazil and Chile were locked in a tight battle in Charlotte that was ultimately settled by a tiebreaker, while in the women’s tournament, Brazil and Chile were engaged for similar bragging rights.
Among the men, Brazil and Chile boasted more experience in IFAF international competition than debutants Argentina.
Brazil finished 17th among 21 nations at the 2021 IFAF Flag Football World Championships. A tough group stage saw them lose to eventual semifinalists Italy and European powerhouse Denmark on the way to an 0-4 record. Brazil then blasted 62 unanswered points past India and beat Finland 33-27 to end the event on a high note.
Chile finished one place higher in 16th spot having posted a 1-4 record in the group stages, losing to champions the United States and France, who claimed fifth, while beating India 32-14. In the bracket for 13thoverall, Chile was beaten by Switzerland and Korea.
Argentina were relative newcomers on the international scene last summer in North Carolina.
“We’re all from Buenos Aries, where the players are the strongest, and won the national state championship,” explained wide receiver Ilai Rozenblum. “We have also played tackle football together for the national team and we played in the South American tournament in Brazil, so I don’t feel that it’s been difficult for us to come together as a team.”
At the 2023 IFAF Americas Championship, Brazil ended a round robin group stage at 2-4 having beaten both South American rivals, while 1-5 Chile’s win came over Argentina. None of the trio could dent the domination of the United States and Mexico, or challenge Panama and Canada for a shot at the bronze medal, though Brazil only lost to third place finishers Panama by eight points.
That set up a placement mini tournament which saw Argentina record their first win, 25-17 over Chile, who then beat Brazil by 26-18. Brazil and Argentina fought an epic content that left all three teams standing at 1-1 as Brazil emerged winners by three points 27-24 over Argentina.
The tiebreaker since the teams’ head-to-head record was equal was points differential in the three games. It was Argentina that claimed fifth place in the Americas with a plus-five mark, while Chile claimed sixth overall with zero points differential and Brazil was seventh at minus-five.
“I never thought I would be here in the US where football was born, playing this sport I fell in love with when I was 19 or 20 years old,” added Ilai Rozenblum. “We are learning more about the game from those who have more experience than us. We are working on improving our structure and setting down the bases for the next few years.”
In the women’s continental competition, Chile and Brazil were the only teams from South America in Charlotte.
Both found the going tough against the two top ranked teams in the world Mexico and USA, third place finisher at The World Games Panama, and eventual continental bronze medalist Canada. The two teams met in the opening round of games in group play and Brazil recorded a convincing 40-point shutout.
Two years earlier Brazil had played for the bronze medal at the 2021 IFAF Flag Football World Championships in Israel, losing out 26-13 to Austria. Brazil had topped their group with a 2-0-1 record by beating Japan (20-14) and Denmark (41-19) while finishing level (20-20) against the host nation. France was brushed aside 32-6, but then Mexico proved too strong, winning 47-6 in the semifinals.
The fourth-place overall finish earned Mexico qualification to The World Games in Birmingham, Alabama in 2022. Brazil lost to Mexico as they blazed a trail to win gold, and to Japan and Italy. A knockout stage defeat came at the hands of the United States by a score of 32-7.
Chile lost to Panama, Italy, Czechia and Belarus at the 2021 IFAF World Championships and were beaten by Finland in the playoff for 18th place.
When Brazil and Chile met again in the Americas continental championships to contest fifth place overall, a second Brazilian win over their rivals came by the score of 34-6.
Going into the IFAF Flag Football World Championships from August 27-30 in Lahti, Finland, Brazil sits in 13thplace in the IFAF World Rankings. Chile occupies 21st place.
Photo: USA Football
