Canada’s men and women have progressed to the quarterfinals of the flag football world championships held in Germany. The men, despite losing 37-28 to Japan, secured the second spot in their group with a 2-1 record. Originally set to face Nigeria, Canada received a walkover victory as Nigeria withdrew due to visa problems. Japan’s Take Taniguchi threw five touchdown passes, while Canada’s Michael O’Connor, a former CFL quarterback, managed three TD passes. In the quarterfinals, Canada will challenge American Samoa following their surprising win over the top-ranked U.S. team.
On the other hand, the Canadian women topped their group with a flawless 3-0 record after defeating Japan 34-20. They are scheduled to play against Austria in the quarterfinals, with a potential semifinal against the winner of Mexico and Spain. Quarterback Sara Parker shined with four touchdown passes, including two to Caroline Moquin-Joubert. Additionally, Alexane Fournier, Marianne Quirion, and Frederique Morneau contributed to Canada’s victory by catching TD passes and scoring a rushing touchdown, respectively.
Teams at the championships are not only competing for the world title but also vying for a chance to secure a spot in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. The top two finishers at the world championships will earn Olympic berths as flag football makes its debut in the program. All matches from the event will be available for live streaming on CBCSports.ca and CBC Gem.