Canada’s women’s flag football team emerged victorious over 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 held in Düsseldorf, Germany. The women’s team, already qualified after defeating top-ranked Mexico 20-6 in the semifinals, concluded a flawless tournament with a 27-20 triumph over the Americans in the final.
Frederique Morneau showcased an exceptional performance with three touchdown catches for Canada, while quarterback Sara Parker connected with Caroline Moquin-Joubert for the team’s other score. Parker, who delivered a total of 23 touchdown passes, earned the title of the most valuable player in the women’s tournament.
In the men’s category, Canada secured its place at the 2028 Olympics by defeating Mexico 34-26 in the third-place match. Quarterback Michael O’Connor led the team with 294 yards and five touchdowns, with former NFL tight-end Antony Auclair contributing significantly with 149 receiving yards and two touchdown receptions from O’Connor. Daniel Petermann and James Drysdale also added two and one touchdown, respectively.
The top two teams from each flag football event, excluding the host Americans, qualified for the upcoming Olympic debut of flag football in Los Angeles. Although Canada faced a loss against Italy in the men’s semifinals, they clinched the Olympic berth by defeating Mexico in the third-place match, as the American men advanced to the final.
Expressing his satisfaction with the team’s performance, Canada’s head coach Paul LaPolice stated, “We came to the world championships to win, and this group got it done. Qualifying for the Olympics doesn’t happen by accident, it’s the result of a lot of hard work and dedication, and I’m proud of how our athletes competed when it mattered most.” He further emphasized the significance of both the men’s and women’s teams qualifying simultaneously for the Olympics, highlighting the promising future of Canadian flag football.
In the men’s final, the U.S emerged victorious over Italy with a score of 42-26, securing the championship title.