Canada’s women’s flag football team emerged victorious over the United States to claim the world 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 in Düsseldorf, Germany. The women’s team, having already secured a place with a 20-6 win over Mexico in the semifinals, concluded a flawless tournament by defeating the Americans 27-20 in the final.
Frederique Morneau made three touchdown receptions for Canada, with quarterback Sara Parker connecting with Caroline Moquin-Joubert for another score. Parker, who threw a total of 23 touchdown passes, was named the most valuable player of the women’s tournament.
In a nail-biting match that came down to the final play, the Canadians clinched the gold medal by edging out the United States 27-20. The Canadian men also earned a ticket to the 2028 Olympics after defeating Mexico 34-26 in the third-place match on Sunday.
Quarterback Michael O’Connor led Canada with an impressive performance, amassing 294 yards and scoring five touchdowns. Former NFL tight end Antony Auclair contributed significantly with 149 receiving yards and two touchdown receptions from O’Connor. Daniel Petermann found the end zone twice, and James Drysdale scored the remaining touchdown for the team.
The top two teams from both flag football events, excluding the host Americans, secured qualification for the upcoming Olympic Games in Los Angeles, where flag football will debut as an Olympic sport. Although Canada suffered a loss to Italy in the men’s semifinals, their victory in the third-place match against Mexico secured their place in the LA28 Olympics, alongside the women’s team.
Head coach Paul LaPolice expressed his pride in the team’s performance, stating, “We came to the world championships to win, and this group got it done.” LaPolice emphasized the dedication and hard work that led to the Olympic qualification, highlighting the athletes’ exceptional performance when it mattered the most.
“This is a momentous occasion for the sport, and the qualification of both our men’s and women’s senior teams demonstrates the positive trajectory of Canadian flag football,” LaPolice added. In the men’s final, the U.S emerged victorious over Italy with a score of 42-26.