Canada’s flag football teams triumphed in their opening matches at the IFAF World Championship in Düsseldorf, Germany. The Canadian women’s team secured a victory over Panama with quarterback Sara Parker throwing four touchdowns, three of which were caught by wide receiver Caroline Moquin-Joubert and one by Laura Molimard, leading to a 27-14 win. In their game against Brazil, the Canadian women dominated, establishing a 20-0 lead by halftime and ultimately winning 36-6. Marianne Quirion and Frédérique Morneau each scored two touchdowns in that match, with Molimard adding another.
On the other hand, the Canadian men’s team started with a single game on Thursday, defeating Austria 26-6. Quarterback Michael O’Connor shone by completing 19 of 24 passes for four touchdowns in the victory. Besides the quest for a world title, teams are vying for a chance to compete in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. The top two finishers at the world championships will secure spots in the Olympics as the sport makes its debut on the program.
Both Canadian teams will conclude the group stage with matches against Japan on Friday. The men will play at 2 a.m. ET, while the women will take the field at 4:30 a.m. ET. All event matches will be live-streamed on CBCSports.ca and CBC Gem. The Canadian men were set to face Nigeria but will now be granted an automatic win as the Nigerian team withdrew from the tournament due to visa complications.