The Canadian national women’s flag football team has secured their spot at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles after a convincing victory over Mexico with a score of 20-6 in the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) world championship semifinals held in Duesseldorf, Germany.
Expressing pride in the team’s achievement, head coach Rachel Lessard emphasized the team’s discipline, resilience, and trust that culminated in this opportunity earned through their performance at the 2026 IFAF Flag Football world championships. The coach highlighted the rising prominence of Canadian flag football and the honor of contributing to the momentum leading up to the 2028 Olympics.
As per the qualification criteria, the top two countries in both the men’s and women’s world championships automatically qualify for the 2028 Olympics debut of flag football. However, in the event that the United States, as the host nation, advances to the finals, the top three finishers secure their spots in Los Angeles.
The Canadian women’s team is set to face the U.S. in the world championship final, following the U.S.’s 27-21 victory over Britain in the semifinals. Meanwhile, Mexico and Britain will compete for the remaining women’s Olympic berth in the bronze-medal match.
Although the Canadian men faced a 41-36 defeat against Italy in the semifinals, they still have an opportunity to secure an Olympic ticket in the bronze-medal match against Mexico. The U.S. secured a spot in the men’s gold medal match by defeating Mexico 42-40 in the semifinals.
Apart from the world championships, countries can also qualify for the Los Angeles Olympics through continental championships next year and a subsequent qualifying series. In the quarterfinals, the Canadian men defeated American Samoa 24-14, and the women emerged victorious with a 40-12 win over Austria.
Eva Havaris, the chief executive officer of Football Canada, commended the women’s flag football team for their hard work and outstanding performance, expressing excitement about their official qualification for the Olympic stage. Notable individual performances included Sara Parker’s 107 passing yards and Silvia Contreras leading the receiving yards with 38 on six catches and a touchdown. Caroline Moquin-Joubert and Alexane Fournier contributed with touchdown plays for the women’s team, while James Drysdale, Jackson Tachinski, and Antony Auclair found the end zone for the men’s team in the semifinals.
The victory marks a significant milestone for Canadian flag football, showcasing the team’s dedication and skill as they prepare to compete on the global stage in Los Angeles.