Germany, Japan, Poland and the United States are the four nations that will contest the American football tournament at the 2017 World Games, it has been announced ©IWGA

Germany, Japan, Poland and the United States are the four countries that will contest the American football tournament at the 2017 World Games, it has been announced.

American football is one of four invitational sports on the programme of the Games, scheduled to take place in Polish city Wrocław from July 20 to 30.

Germany go into the event as the reigning European champions having beaten hosts Austria in the 2014 final.

The country staged the World Games in Duisburg in 2005, the last occasion American football last featured as an invitational sport.

Germany beat Sweden in the final, while France came third after defeating Australia in the bronze medal match.

American football was last on the World Games programme in 2005
American football was last on the World Games programme in 2005 as an invitational sport ©Getty Images

American football is considered a popular sport in Poland and specifically Wrocław, where more than 14,000 spectators watched the Polish league’s SuperFinal last year.

The 2017 World Games were originally due to be held from August 3 to 13 but were moved to July 20 to 30 in order to avoid a clash with the 2017 International Association of Athletics Federations World Championships in London.

Wrocław was awarded the Games in 2012, beating off opposition from Hungary's capital Budapest, now a candidate city for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.