With flag football making its Olympic debut, Canada is vying for the first available spots in the 2028 Los Angeles Games at the ongoing world championships in Germany. The men’s and women’s Olympics tournaments will each feature six teams, with two spots up for grabs. The United States, a strong flag football team, has an automatic entry, and the remaining spots will be determined through a qualifier in June 2028, starting in Montreal.
Although securing a spot in the Olympics is not mandatory at the world championships, it would be advantageous to avoid the last-chance qualifier in the following years.
Sixteen teams are participating in both the men’s and women’s tournaments in Germany, divided into groups of four for the preliminary round held on Thursday and Friday. The top two teams from each group will progress to the knockout stage starting on Saturday, with the medal matches deciding the world champions and the Olympic qualifiers scheduled for Sunday.
The top two finishers in each tournament will earn a ticket to the Olympics, with a third-place finish being sufficient if the U.S. reaches the final, potentially leading to intense bronze-medal games.
The Canadian women’s team begins its group stage against Panama, followed by a match against Brazil and Japan. The men’s team faces Austria, Japan, and was awarded a win due to Nigeria’s withdrawal.
Canada’s women’s team holds the fourth rank globally, having won world championships in 2010 and 2014. On the other hand, the men’s team, ranked 10th, won their sole world title in 2008. The U.S. team, aiming for its sixth consecutive world title, holds the top rank.
The Olympics’ inclusion of flag football for 2028 raised speculation about NFL and CFL stars participating. However, a major distinction between flag and tackle football was evident during a men’s flag exhibition tournament, highlighting the strategic and physical differences between the sports.
The Canadian national teams feature notable players such as former NFL tight end Antony Auclair and Grey Cup winner Marc-Antoine Dequoy in the men’s team, and veteran players like Sabrina Gervais and Sarah Parker in the women’s team.
The flag football world championships are available for live viewing on CBC Gem and the CBC Sports website. The official schedule and results can also be accessed for further details.