Canada’s male and female teams have progressed to the quarterfinals of the flag football world championships held in Germany. The men’s team achieved a 2-1 record, finishing second in their group after a 37-28 loss to Japan. Due to Nigeria’s withdrawal from the tournament due to visa issues, Canada was granted an automatic win in their scheduled match against Nigeria. Japan’s quarterback, Take Taniguchi, threw five touchdown passes, while Canada’s Michael O’Connor, a former CFL quarterback, threw three TD passes. In the quarterfinals, Canada will face American Samoa, who caused an upset by defeating the top-ranked U.S. team.
On the other hand, the Canadian women’s team secured the top spot in their group with a flawless 3-0 record, following their 34-20 victory over Japan. They are set to play against Austria in the quarterfinals, with a potential semifinal match against the winner of Mexico and Spain. Quarterback Sara Parker was instrumental in the victory against Japan, throwing four touchdown passes, two of which were caught by Caroline Moquin-Joubert. Additional touchdowns were scored by Alexane Fournier, Marianne Quirion, and Frederique Morneau, as Canada staged a remarkable comeback in the second half, scoring 21 unanswered points after trailing 20-13 at halftime.
Aside from the pursuit of a world title, teams are also vying for a chance to qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. The top two finishers at the world championships will secure spots in the Olympics, marking the sport’s debut in the program. All matches of the event will be available for live streaming on CBCSports.ca and CBC Gem.