The Canadian national women’s flag football team has secured a spot at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles after a victorious match against Mexico in the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) world championship semifinal in Duesseldorf, Germany. Head coach Rachel Lessard expressed her pride in the team’s achievement, emphasizing their discipline, resilience, and teamwork throughout the qualifying process.
The success of the Canadian women’s team reflects the growth of flag football in Canada, with the team poised to continue this momentum at the 2028 Olympics. The top two teams from both the men’s and women’s world championships will qualify for the 2028 Olympics, with an additional spot available if the United States, as the host nation, reaches the final.
The Canadian women will face the United States in the world championship final, with the winner claiming the title and a spot at the Olympics. Mexico and Britain will compete for the remaining women’s Olympic berth in the bronze-medal match. Meanwhile, the Canadian men faced a defeat against Italy in the semifinals but still have a chance to secure an Olympic spot in the bronze-medal match against Mexico.
In other matches, the U.S. emerged victorious over Mexico in the men’s semifinal and will compete against Italy for the gold medal. Countries can also qualify for the Los Angeles Olympics through continental championships and a subsequent qualifying series. The Canadian teams showed strength in the quarterfinals, with the women defeating Austria and the men triumphing over American Samoa.
Football Canada’s CEO, Eva Havaris, commended the women’s flag football team for their hard work and outstanding performance, expressing excitement for their upcoming Olympic journey. Notable performances in the semifinals included Sara Parker’s passing game and standout plays by receivers like Silvia Contreras and James Drysdale. The teams are gearing up for the final matches and the opportunity to represent Canada at the prestigious Olympic Games.