Canada’s male and female teams have progressed to the quarterfinals of the flag football world championships held in Germany. The men’s team secured a spot in the quarterfinals despite a 37-28 loss to Japan, finishing second in their group with a 2-1 record. Originally set to face Nigeria, the Canadian team was granted an automatic win as Nigeria withdrew from the tournament due to visa issues. Japan’s quarterback Take Taniguchi threw five touchdown passes, while Canada’s former CFL quarterback Michael O’Connor managed three TD passes. In the quarterfinals, the Canadian men will compete against American Samoa, who caused an upset by defeating the top-seeded U.S. team.
On the other hand, Canada’s women topped their group with a flawless 3-0 record after defeating Japan 34-20. Their next challenge in the quarterfinals will be against Austria. A win would propel the Canadian women into the semifinals against the victor of the Mexico versus Spain match. Quarterback Sara Parker showcased her skills by throwing four touchdown passes against Japan, including two to Caroline Moquin-Joubert. Furthermore, Alexane Fournier and Marianne Quirion also scored TDs, with Frederique Morneau adding a rushing touchdown as Canada overturned a halftime deficit to secure a 21-point victory in the second half.
Aside from vying for the world title, teams at the event are also aiming for a chance to participate in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. The top-two finishers at the world championships will secure spots in the Olympics, marking the sport’s debut on the Olympic program. All matches of the event are available for live streaming on CBCSports.ca and CBC Gem.