TeamAmericanSamoa
Fifty-five square miles. One national team. Fifth in the world on our World Championship debut, having beaten the United States along the way. Unity. Culture. Family.
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World Championships. Against all odds.
Team American Samoa arrived in Düsseldorf as the lowest ranked side in the field, 33rd in the world, playing its first World Championship. It beat the United States, won Group A and finished fifth.
5th
in the world,on debut
Of 12 nations in Düsseldorf, from the lowest ranking in the field. Won Group A ahead of the eventual champions.
- WonAustraliaGroup AAmerican Samoa 21, Australia 7
- WonUnited StatesGroup AAmerican Samoa 38, United States 32
The first defeat for the United States in more than 50 competitive games, and their first since 2012. They went on to win the tournament.
- LostIsraelGroup AAmerican Samoa 24, Israel 40
Played after top spot in the group was already secured.
- LostCanadaQuarter-finalAmerican Samoa 14, Canada 24
Canada finished third.
- WonGermanyFifth to eighthAmerican Samoa 34, Germany 31
- WonJapanFifth place gameAmerican Samoa 48, Japan 38
Japan had taken the United States to the final minutes of their quarter-final.
Group A
World ranking going in- #1
United States - #8
Australia - #12
Israel - #33
American Samoa
Rankings as they stood before the tournament, as published by the International Federation of American Football. American Samoa entered the rankings for the first time in November 2025 and won the group.
What the team plays for
Fa'asāmoa
Our heritage
The Samoan way. Respect for the aiga, for the elders, and for everyone who wore this before you.
Laumei le Atua
God is with us
Faith travels with the team. It is spoken before every game and it does not stay on the island.
One team
One island
Fifty-five square miles and roughly 45,000 people. Everybody on the roster is playing for all of it.
Play with heart
Represent with pride
Nobody expects us in this bracket. That has never once been the point.
Earned.Not given.
October 2025
Ningbo, China
IFAF Asia-Oceania Championship
American Samoa travelled to the Fenghua Sports Center for the regional championship. It was the qualifying route to a first world championship.
26 October 2025
Ningbo, China
American Samoa 41, China 34
The third-place playoff. A win over the hosts, and with it the territory's first berth at an IFAF World Championship.
November 2025
World ranking: 33
An inaugural entry in the IFAF World Rankings. Two months earlier the team was unranked.
14 August 2026
Düsseldorf, Germany
American Samoa 38, United States 32
On debut, against the defending champions and world number one. It was the first defeat for the United States in more than 50 competitive games, and their first since 2012. They went on to win the tournament anyway.
15 August 2026
Düsseldorf, Germany
Won Group A
Through as group winners ahead of the United States, into a quarter-final against Canada, who finished the tournament third.
16 August 2026
Düsseldorf, Germany
Fifth in the world
Germany beaten 34 to 31, then Japan 48 to 38 in the fifth place game. Fifth of twelve nations, on debut, from the lowest ranking in the field.
Fifty-five square miles,one national team
American Samoa sends more players per capita into American football than anywhere else on earth. Flag is where the next generation starts, and where the territory now has a national side ranked among the world's best.
The programme is run by the American Samoa National Football Federation.
The squad
- Taulia Tagovailoa
- Batchlor Johnson
- Jahcour Pearson
- Bralond Brown
- Vai Peko
- Tai Tiedmann
- John Hardy-Tulia
- London Iakopo
- Robert Regpala
- Adam Wright
- Alijah Holder
- Antonio Hill
- Puka Nacua
- Tetairoa McMillan
Coaching staff
- Sterling Carvalho
- Stewart Carvalho