Players from 15 countries and 4 continents arrive in Texas for USA vs World game (VIDEO)

The world’s best 19-and-under American Football players from around the world landed in Austin, Texas on Thursday, January 27 in preparation of the second annual ‘Team USA vs. the World’ game.

VIDEO: HEAD COACH GREG MARSHALL SPEAKS TO THE WORLD TEAM IN FIRST MEETING

The game featuring the World Team and the U.S Under 19 National Team, assembled by USA Football, kicks off Wednesday, February 2 at 7:30pm CT at Austin Westlake Stadium in Austin, Texas. Tickets cost $8 and are available at
www.usafootball.com/app/webroot/teamusa.

The eventual 45-man World Team currently features 42 of the best 19-and-under players from American Samoa, Austria, Canada, Finland, Germany, Japan, Mexico and Sweden. The final three players will be selected from the IFAF development team, which will take part in practices in Austin with the aim of identifying and developing future prospects. The team will form the basis of the 2012 World team. The Development team features athletes from American Samoa, Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Serbia, Spain and Sweden.

The World Team is led by University of Western Ontario Mustangs head coach GREG MARSHALL and the U.S Under 19 National Team is coached by Austin (Texas) Westlake High School DARREN ALLMAN.

Here is a look at how far the players have travelled to take part in the game.

Australia to Austin = 8,480 miles
Japan to Austin = 6,559 miles
Serbia to Austin = 5,959 miles
Italy to Austin = 5,765 miles
Austria to Austin = 5,660 miles
Finland to Austin = 5,398 miles
Germany to Austin = 5,379 miles
Sweden to Austin = 5,250 miles
France to Austin = 5,095 miles
Spain to Austin = 5,095 miles
Norway to Austin = 5,016 miles
American Samoa to Austin = 4,723 miles
Canada to Austin = 1,581 miles
Mexico to Austin = 764 miles

Teammates and coaches met for the first time during a team orientation and meeting in the evening. The players split up with their positional coaches going over what will be expected during the first of four two-a-day practices on Friday, January 28. All of the practices will be held at the Westlake High School Stadium.

“The biggest challenge Team World will face is how quickly we can get the players to gel,” said defensive coordinator WARREN CRANEY who returns for a second year. “We are dealing with different cultures, different nationalities, race, religion, creed and language barriers. So how quickly we can get the players to gel is going to be the key to our success. And it all falls on us – the coaching staff.”

“But I am looking forward to having an experience of a lifetime and giving an experience of a lifetime to the kids!”

The Team USA vs. The World series kicked off in January 2010 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where Team USA earned a 17-0 victory. The World Team held the hosts scoreless until the final play of the first half, suggesting that the gap in quality between international junior football players and their counterparts from the United States is narrowing as the game’s popularity spreads around the world.

Participation in “Team USA vs. The World” is recognized as a U.S. National Team competition by the NCAA and not considered an all-star game.

TEAM USA VS. THE WORLD – WORLD TEAM SCHEDULE

Friday, January 28
10:00 – 12:00 World Team Practice (Westlake HS Stadium)
4:00 – 6:00 World Team Practice (Westlake HS Stadium)

Saturday, January 29
10:00 – 12:00 World Team Practice (Westlake HS Stadium)
4:00 – 6:00 World Team Practice (Westlake HS Stadium)
6:30 – 8:00 Welcome Dinner (Marriott-South)

Sunday, January 30
10:00 – 12:00 World Team Practice (Practice Fields)
5:00 – 7:00 World Team Practice (Westlake HS Stadium)

Monday, January 31
10:00 – 12:00 World Team Practice (Practice Field)
5:00 – 7:00 World Team Practice (Westlake Stadium)

Tuesday, February 1
1:00 – 1:30 Team Photo & Game day walk through
1:30 – 3:30 World Team Practice (Westlake HS Stadium)

Wednesday, February 2
6:00pm USA and World teams begin on-field warm up
7:30pm ‘Team USA vs. The World’ Game kickoff

TEAM USA VS. THE WORLD – TEAM USA SCHEDULE

Saturday, January 29
2:00 – 4:00 US Team Trials (Westlake HS Stadium)
6:30 – 8:00 Welcome Dinner (Marriott-South)

Sunday, January 30
10:30 – 12:30 US Team Trials (Westlake HS Stadium)
1:00 – 4:00 Team USA Practice (Westlake HS Stadium)

Monday, January 31
10:00 – 1:00 Team USA Practice (Westlake Stadium)

Tuesday, February 1
10:00 – 1:00 Team USA Practice (Westlake HS Stadium)
1:00 – 1:30 Team Photo & Game day walk through

Wednesday, February 2
6:00pm USA and World teams begin on-field warm up
7:30pm ‘Team USA vs. The World’ Game kickoff