Canada’s women’s flag football team beat the United States to win the world title on Sunday 16 August, while the country’s men secured a place at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, The Canadian Press reports from the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) world championships in Düsseldorf.
The women, who had already qualified for the Games with a 20-6 semi-final win over top-ranked Mexico on Saturday, completed what the report calls a perfect tournament with a 27-20 victory over the Americans in the final. Frédérique Morneau had three touchdown catches, and quarterback Sara Parker found Caroline Moquin-Joubert for the other score. Parker, who threw 23 touchdown passes over the tournament, was named most valuable player of the women’s competition. According to the report, it was Canada’s third world title and its first since beating the United States in the 2014 final.
A Third-Place Game With Olympic Stakes
The men’s route was less direct. Canada lost to Italy in the semi-finals, which turned the third-place game against Mexico into a contest for an Olympic berth once the American men reached the final. Canada won it 34-26, in overtime according to The Associated Press. Quarterback Michael O’Connor led the way with 294 yards and five touchdowns, according to The Canadian Press, while former NFL tight end Antony Auclair had 149 receiving yards and two touchdown catches. Daniel Petermann scored twice and James Drysdale added the other touchdown. The Associated Press reported that the United States beat Italy 46-26 in the men’s final.
The qualification rule explains the stakes. The top two teams in each of the men’s and women’s events, not counting the host Americans, earned places in Los Angeles, where flag football will make its Olympic debut, the report notes.
Reaction From the Players and Coach
“I feel so happy, I can’t believe it,” Parker said after the final, as quoted by The Canadian Press. Canada head coach Paul LaPolice said the team “came to the (world championships) to win”, and described qualification as the result of hard work rather than something that happens by accident. He added that seeing both senior teams qualify together reflected where Canadian flag football is heading.
Why It Matters
Flag football will make its Olympic debut in 2028, and Sunday’s results gave Canada a place in both the men’s and women’s events in Los Angeles. A world final staged in Germany and a third-place game that carried Olympic consequences show how much is now riding on results in the sport ahead of 2028.
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