Canada’s women’s flag football team emerged victorious against the United States to claim the world title, while the men’s team secured a spot at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics during the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) world championships in Düsseldorf, Germany. The women sealed their perfect tournament run with a 27-20 triumph over the Americans in the final, following a 20-6 win against top-ranked Mexico in the semifinals.
Frederique Morneau shone with three touchdown catches for Canada, with quarterback Sara Parker connecting with Caroline Moquin-Joubert for another score. Parker, who tallied 23 touchdown passes, was honored as the women’s tournament’s most valuable player.
On the men’s side, Canada clinched a 34-26 victory over Mexico in the third-place game, securing their spot at the 2028 Olympics. Quarterback Michael O’Connor led the charge with 294 yards and five touchdowns, supported by former NFL tight-end Antony Auclair with 149 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Daniel Petermann and James Drysdale also made crucial contributions to the team’s success.
With both the women’s and men’s teams qualifying for the Olympics, Canada’s head coach, Paul LaPolice, expressed pride in the athletes’ dedication and performance. The top two teams from each flag football event, excluding the host Americans, earned spots in the upcoming Los Angeles Olympics, where flag football will debut as an Olympic sport.
Despite a loss to Italy in the men’s semifinals, Canada’s men clinched a pivotal victory in the third-place game to secure their Olympic berth. LaPolice commended the team’s hard work and emphasized the significant milestone of both Canadian teams qualifying for the Olympics, highlighting the positive trajectory of Canadian flag football.
In other matches, the U.S emerged victorious over Italy in the men’s final with a score of 42-26, showcasing a high level of competition throughout the tournament.