Canada’s women’s flag football team secured victory 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, already qualified after defeating top-ranked Mexico 20-6 in the semifinals, concluded a flawless tournament with a 27-20 triumph over the American team in the finals.
Frederique Morneau made three touchdown receptions for Canada, with quarterback Sara Parker connecting with Caroline Moquin-Joubert for Canada’s additional score. Parker, who threw a total of 23 touchdown passes, was honored as the most valuable player in the women’s competition.
In a tightly contested match that was decided in the final moments, the Canadian women clinched the gold medal by defeating the United States 27-20. On the other hand, the Canadian men secured their spot at the 2028 Olympics after defeating Mexico 34-26 in the third-place playoff game. Quarterback Michael O’Connor led Canada 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 and James Drysdale also found the end zone for Canada.
The top two teams from each gender category, excluding the host United States, earned qualification for the Los Angeles Olympics, where flag football will debut as an Olympic sport. Although Canada was defeated by Italy in the men’s semifinals, they secured their Olympic berth by winning the third-place playoff match as the American men progressed to the final as well.
Head coach Paul LaPolice expressed his pride in the team’s accomplishments, 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, indicating a promising future for Canadian flag football. In the men’s final, the United States emerged victorious over Italy with a score of 42-26.