With the introduction of flag football to the Olympic Games, Canada is one of the nations aiming to secure spots in the 2028 Los Angeles Games during the ongoing world championships in Germany. The competition features two positions for both men’s and women’s teams, each consisting of six teams. The United States, known for its flag football prowess, automatically qualifies as the host nation. The remaining three spots for each gender will be determined through a two-stage qualifier in Montreal in June 2028.
While the world championships do not directly guarantee Olympic qualification, it is advantageous to secure a spot now and avoid the pressure of the last-chance qualifier in the coming years.
The tournament in Germany involves sixteen teams in both the men’s and women’s categories. They are divided into groups of four for the preliminary rounds held on Thursday and Friday. The top two teams from each group will progress to the knockout stage starting on Saturday. The medal matches, where the world champions and Olympic qualifiers will be decided, are scheduled for Sunday.
The top two finishers in each tournament will earn a ticket to the Olympics. However, if the United States reaches the final, a third-place finish would also secure Olympic qualification, potentially leading to intense bronze-medal matches.
In the women’s category, Canada, currently ranked fourth globally, will face Panama, Brazil, and Japan in the group stage matches. The Canadian men’s team, ranked 10th, will compete against Austria, Japan, and receive a default win against Nigeria due to visa issues.
The Canadian women’s team has a rich history in flag football, having won world championships in 2010 and 2014 and securing a bronze in 2018. The men’s team claimed their only world title in 2008 and aim to improve upon past bronze-medal finishes. Notable players, including former NFL and CFL athletes, strengthen both Canadian squads for the competition.
The flag football world championships can be livestreamed on CBC Gem and the CBC Sports website, starting Thursday at 2 a.m. ET.