Canada’s women’s flag football team emerged victorious over the United States to claim the world championship title, while the men’s team secured their spot at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics at the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) world championships held in Düsseldorf, Germany. The women’s team, having previously secured their spot with a 20-6 win over top-ranked Mexico in the semifinals, concluded a flawless tournament with a 27-20 victory over the American team in the final match.
Frederique Morneau made a significant impact with three touchdown receptions for Canada, while quarterback Sara Parker connected with Caroline Moquin-Joubert for another score. Parker, with a total of 23 touchdown passes, was honored as the most valuable player of the women’s tournament.
The Canadian men’s team will be heading to the 2028 Games alongside the women after defeating Mexico 34-26 in the third-place game. Quarterback Michael O’Connor led the team with an impressive performance, amassing 294 yards and contributing five touchdowns. Former NFL tight end Antony Auclair stood out with 149 receiving yards and two touchdown catches from O’Connor. Additionally, Daniel Petermann scored twice, and James Drysdale added another touchdown to secure the victory.
The top two teams from both flag football events, excluding the host American teams, secured qualification for the Los Angeles Olympics, where flag football will debut as an Olympic sport. Despite a loss to Italy in the men’s semifinals, Canada capitalized on the opportunity to secure an Olympic berth in the third-place match as the American men also advanced to the final.
Head coach Paul LaPolice expressed his pride in the team’s achievements, stating, “We came to the world championships to win, and this group got it done. Qualifying for the Olympics doesn’t happen by accident; it’s the result of a lot of hard work and dedication, and I’m proud of how our athletes performed when it mattered most.” LaPolice also highlighted the significance of both the men’s and women’s teams qualifying together, indicating a positive trajectory for Canadian flag football.
In the men’s final, the United States emerged victorious over Italy with a final score of 42-26.