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The International Federation of American Football (IFAF) has announced the venues for two world championships that will be played in 2010 in Sweden and Canada.

History will be made in the Swedish capital Stockholm when the first-ever IFAF Women's World Championship of American Football is held in either late June or early July of 2010. The exact dates and number of participating teams are to be determined.

At the 12th annual IFAF Congress held in Canton, Ohio, earlier this month, several countries expressed an interest in entering the inaugural competition. Women's tackle football is currently played in Austria, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Germany, Finland, Japan, Sweden, Venezuela and the United States and several nations also boast female flag football participation.

"Women's tackle football is growing steadily in popularity and there is definitely enthusiasm among players for an international competition of the highest quality," said IFAF President TOMMY WIKING. "IFAF and its federations will become stronger through participating in competitions, so we expect this world championship to be another positive step forward."

In October 2008, Finland hosted Sweden in the first-ever international game played between two women's tackle teams.

The Canadian capital of Ottawa will welcome both male and female teams representing their respective nations at the 2010 IFAF Flag Football World Championship from August 11-16, 2010. The participating nations will arrive on July 11; take part in an opening ceremony on July 12 and then kickoff the flag football action on July 13.

Carlton University will host the teams, who will compete on 16 flag football fields in the fifth such IFAF event, which is played every two years. Almost 20 countries have so far expressed an interest in participating in the world championship.

"We look forward to welcoming the best flag football teams from around the world to our nation's beautiful capital," said RICHARD MUNRO, CEO of Football Canada. "We have first class facilities available to the athletes not only at Carlton University, but also away from the football field, so they can relax and enjoy everything Ottawa has to offer."

Canada will defend the men's title won on home soil in 2008 in Jean-Sur-Richelieu, Quebec, while Mexico is the reigning women's champion. Previous world championships have been held in Austria (2002), France (2004) and Korea (2006).