International Football Alliance

The International Football Alliance (IFA) is a professional, outdoor, 11-man American football league. The IFA's inaugural season will commence in June 2024, with 6 teams, and will operate internationally in both Mexico and the United States.[2][3][4] The league is headquartered in Cancún, Mexico.

International Football Alliance
SportAmerican football
Founded2023
Inaugural season2024
Owner(s)Collective Entertainment Group, LLC
CommissionerJuan Manuel Bladé Cavazos
No. of teams6 (planned)
CountryMexico and United States
HeadquartersCancun, Mexico
TV partner(s)
Roku
Related
competitions		XFL, USFL, CFL
Official websitewww.ifa.football

Premise

The IFA's aim is to "deliver the highest level of American football," and "build a unified and solid American football ecosystem in Mexico."[3]

Teams

The IFA has announced 6 founding member cities, 4 of which are derived from the now-defunct Fútbol Americano de México league. Commissioner Juan Manuel Bladé Cavazos stated the IFA would like to have a team in Mexico City upon procurement of a suitable ownership group. Cavazos further stated the plan is to have 10 teams by 2025, split between the 2 countries, while California and Florida are states with prospective member cities.[5]

Locations of the IFA teams
Team City
Mexico
Tequileros de Jalisco Guadalajara, Jalisco
Rarámuris de Ciudad Juárez Juárez City, Chihuahua
Sharks Pro Football Cancún, Quintana Roo
United States
Dallas Pioneers[6] Dallas, Texas
El Paso Team El Paso, Texas
TBD TBD

Players

Each team will have a 53-man roster, with a maximum of 20 American players (similar to the Canadian Football League),[7][4] with an aim to attract International players. Salaries were first reported as "similar" to the ELF, XFL and USFL,[3] and later announced that "player pay will be determined per team, with league standards are $400-$1500 per game".[8]

As it pertains to players with dual citizenship (United States + 1 country), teams may submit said player against either the 20 American player cap or the 33 International player cap (per team). Once the player has been submitted, his status may not change until the conclusion of that respective season.

The players will be selected after participating in nationwide IFA-organized combine tryouts.[4] Presently, the league will hold tryouts in San Diego, California; Dallas, Texas; West Palm Beach, Florida; Cincinnati, Ohio; Atlanta, Georgia; and internationally, in Birmingham, England. The IFA Mexico Combine will be held on December 2, 2023, in Mexico City, at Patriots Field. This will be open to all Mexican nationals.

Personnel

Reference[9]

References
  1. "The International Football Alliance announces an Exciting Broadcasting Partnership with Hi Sports, Total Play Telecomunicaciones, and other streaming services". ifa.football.
  2. "IFA Kickoff (Press Conference)". YouTube.
  3. "Anuncian liga de futbol americano entre México y Estados Unidos". espn.com.ar (in Spanish). 15 May 2023.
  4. "Announcement of new Footbal [sic] League with teams from the United States and Mexico". Marca. 15 May 2023. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  5. "La International Football Alliance unirá a equipos de México y Estados Unidos". YouTube.com (in Spanish).
  6. "Episode 150 – XFL vs. USFL: Talent "Arms Race"!". TheMarkcast.com.
  7. "El Comisionado Juan Manuel Blade en Hi Sports (Parte 2)". YouTube.
  8. "IFA Overview". IFA.
  9. "Bridging The Gap Between Professional American Football United States + Mexico". ifa.football.
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