Canada is aiming to secure spots in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics as flag football prepares for its Olympic debut. The world championships in Germany this week will determine the initial entries for the men’s and women’s Olympic tournaments, each consisting of six teams. The United States, a dominant force in flag football, has an automatic entry, leaving three spots per gender to be decided in a two-stage qualifier in June 2028, starting in Montreal.
Although not a direct ticket to the Olympics, performing well at the world championships would alleviate the pressure of the last-chance qualifier in the following years. Sixteen teams in both the men’s and women’s tournaments have been grouped for the preliminary rounds, with the top two from each group advancing to the knockout stage. The medal games, set for Sunday, will determine the world champions and the Olympic qualifiers.
The Canadian women’s team kicks off against Panama before facing Brazil and Japan. The men’s team starts against Austria, then Japan, and benefits from a win by default after Nigeria’s withdrawal due to visa issues. Canada’s women’s team, ranked fourth globally, has a strong history with two world championship wins and a bronze in the last edition. The men’s team, ranked 10th, won the world title in 2008 but aims to improve their recent performances.
The Olympics’ inclusion of flag football for 2028 sparked speculation about NFL and CFL stars participating. However, the differences between flag and tackle football were highlighted at a recent exhibition tournament where flag football players outperformed NFL superstars. Canada’s teams feature former NFL and CFL players, bringing a mix of experience and talent to the competition.
To catch the action, viewers can watch the flag football world championships live on CBC Gem and the CBC Sports website, starting at 2 a.m. ET on Thursday.