Canada’s national women’s flag football team emerged victorious against the United States to claim the world championship title, while the men’s team secured their spot at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics during the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) world championships held in Düsseldorf, Germany.
The women’s team, having already secured their place with a 20-6 victory over top-seeded Mexico in the semifinals, completed a flawless tournament by defeating the Americans 27-20 in the final match. Frederique Morneau made three touchdown receptions for Canada, with quarterback Sara Parker connecting with Caroline Moquin-Joubert for another score.
Parker, who recorded a total of 23 touchdown passes, was honored as the most valuable player of the women’s tournament. On the other hand, the Canadian men’s team secured their Olympic berth by defeating Mexico 34-26 in the third-place match, with quarterback Michael O’Connor leading the team with 294 yards and five touchdowns.
Former NFL tight end Antony Auclair contributed significantly with 149 receiving yards and two touchdown receptions from O’Connor. Additionally, Daniel Petermann scored twice, and James Drysdale added another touchdown.
The top two teams from both flag football events, excluding the host United States, qualified for the upcoming Los Angeles Olympics where flag football will feature for the first time. Despite losing to Italy in the men’s semifinals, Canada’s men seized the opportunity for an Olympic spot in the third-place match as the American men advanced to the final.
Canada’s head coach, Paul LaPolice, expressed his pride in the team’s achievements, emphasizing the hard work and dedication that led to their success. LaPolice highlighted the significance of both the men’s and women’s teams qualifying together, indicating a promising future for Canadian flag football.
In the men’s final, the U.S team triumphed over Italy with a 42-26 victory, showcasing the competitive spirit of the tournament.
