The 2024 IFAF European Junior Flag Football Championships begins on Friday, with 28 teams from 12 nations competing in Serbia from September 6 to 8.
The Kovilovo Resort in the Serbian capital Belgrade welcomes national teams from across the continent in the U17 boys’, U17 girls’ and U15 mixed categories. Serbia successfully held the first-ever IFAF U15 European Flag Football Championships in 2016.
Flag Football will feature on the official programme of the Olympic Games for the first time in history in Los Angeles 2028 and the eleventh IFAF Flag Football World Championships concluded in Lahti, Finland, at the end of August.
Great Britain U19 girls will defend the title won last year in Grossetto, Italy, against the Italians who were beaten 19-6 in the final, Austria, Czechia, Finland, Germany and Spain. The Brits go straight into action in the opening game at 9am local time on Friday against Finland on Field 1, while Italy face Czechia on Field 2. The top four teams in the final standings will advance to the playoffs.
The boys U17 tournament will be split into two groups with defending champions Israel in Group A alongside Czechia, Finland, Great Britain, and Spain. Israel takes on Finland at 10.45am in the opening game. Group B features hosts Serbia, who won silver last year, along with Austria, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland. In the playoffs the top two teams in each group will advance to the semifinals, while other teams participate in a placement bracket.
In 2023 the U15 mixed competition featured athletes of both genders for the first time, reflecting flag football’s highly inclusive nature and integration of male and female athletes.
Defending champions Italy, who beat Czechia 27-20 in the final, are in Group A with Finland, Germany, Slovakia, and Spain, while Group B features silver medalists Czechia, Austria, Great Britain, Serbia, Switzerland, and Ukraine. Their games begin at 10.45am with hosts Serbia taking on Germany. In the playoffs the top two teams in each group will advance to the semifinals, while other teams participate in a placement bracket.
The full schedule of groups and games can be found here: 2024 IFAF EFFCC Youth - SERBIA - Website
