Canada’s women’s flag football team emerged victorious over the United States to claim the world title, while the men’s team secured a spot at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics during the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) world championships in Düsseldorf, Germany. The women’s team, who had already secured their place with a 20-6 victory over top-seeded Mexico in the semifinals, concluded a flawless tournament by defeating the Americans 27-20 in the final match.
Frederique Morneau played a pivotal role with three touchdown receptions for Canada, while quarterback Sara Parker connected with Caroline Moquin-Joubert for another score. Parker, who recorded a total of 23 touchdown passes, was recognized as the most valuable player of the women’s tournament.
In a thrilling third-place game, the Canadian men’s team outplayed Mexico with a 34-26 victory, earning their ticket to the 2028 Olympics. Quarterback Michael O’Connor led the charge with 294 yards and five touchdowns, with former NFL tight end Antony Auclair contributing significantly with 149 receiving yards and two touchdown receptions. Daniel Petermann also found the end zone twice, and James Drysdale added another score.
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 debut as an Olympic sport. Despite Canada’s loss to Italy in the men’s semifinals, their redemption came in the form of securing an Olympic berth by defeating Mexico in the third-place match, following the American men advancing to the final.
Head coach Paul LaPolice expressed his pride in the team’s achievement, emphasizing the hard work and dedication that led to their Olympic qualification. He highlighted the significance of both the men’s and women’s teams qualifying simultaneously, showcasing the promising future of Canadian flag football.
In other matches, the U.S. triumphed over Italy 42-26 in the men’s final, capping off an eventful and successful tournament for the North American teams.