The Asociación de Football Americano de Panama hosts a unique fundraising game tonight, Friday, May 24, when an all-star team representing Panama and the Kiwanis Football League takes on Drake University from Iowa.

Proceeds from the game will go towards the cost of the Panama U20 team traveling to Canada to compete in the IFAF U20 World Junior Championships from June 22-30.

Panama’s juniors will make a 16,000-mile round trip to kick off proceedings in Commonwealth Stadium in the state capital at 12pm local time against two-time champion the United States on Saturday, June 22. Panama’s next opponent will be either Japan or Australia on June 26 with medal and placement games taking place on June 30. The full schedule, additional information and tickets details can be found the tournament website https://worldjrfootballchampionships.com.

The nationally televised game against the Drake Bulldogs will begin with an opening ceremony at 7pm CT on Friday, with kickoff at 7.30pm. A live stream link will be available on game day at the federation’s @AFFPma account on Instagram.

The 52 traveling Drake students, all of whom have been fundraising for the trip for the past year, will take part in a variety of cultural activities to supplement their coursework, such as visiting the Panama Canal, touring Casco Viejo, and taking salsa dancing lessons. They will also participate in community and academic engagements, including a visit to an indigenous village in the rain forest to examine economic development and climate change outside of an urban environment.

Mari Carmen Aponte, U.S. Ambassador to Panama, will act as resident host of the visiting Drake student-athletes and administrators and will welcome the Drake group to her residence in Panama.