With flag football making its Olympic debut, Canada is vying for the first available spots in the 2028 Los Angeles Games at the current world championships in Germany. The men’s and women’s Olympics tournaments each have two spots up for grabs, with only six teams in each. The United States, a powerhouse in flag football, secures an automatic entry, and the remaining three spots for each gender will be determined by a two-stage qualifier in June 2028, starting in Montreal.
Although not crucial for Olympic qualification, securing a spot now at the world championships would alleviate the pressure of competing in the last-chance qualifier over the next two years.
The format of the world championships involves 16 teams in both the men’s and women’s tournaments in Germany, split into groups of four for the preliminary round on Thursday and Friday. The top two teams from each group advance to the knockout stage, commencing on Saturday. The medal matches, determining the world champions and Olympic qualifiers, will take place on Sunday.
Canada’s women’s team begins their group stage against Panama, followed by a match against Brazil and concludes against Japan. The Canadian men start against Austria, then face Japan before securing a win as Nigeria withdrew due to visa issues.
The Canadian women’s team is currently ranked fourth globally, with past successes in 2010 and 2014. The men’s team won the world title in 2008 but has not medaled since. The U.S. men are aiming for their sixth consecutive world title.
The addition of flag football to the 2028 Olympics sparked speculation about NFL and CFL stars participating for the U.S. and Canada. However, the differences between flag and tackle football were evident in a recent exhibition tournament in L.A., where NFL stars struggled against flag football specialists, showcasing the unique skills required for the non-contact game.
Canada’s national teams feature notable players like former NFL tight end Antony Auclair and CFL champion Marc-Antoine Dequoy on the men’s side, and experienced players such as Sabrina Gervais and Sarah Parker leading the women’s team.
The flag football world championships will be livestreamed on CBC Gem and the CBC Sports website, starting at 2 a.m. ET on Thursday.