Canada’s women’s flag football team emerged victorious over the United States to claim the world championship title, while the men’s team secured their spot at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics during the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) world championships in Düsseldorf, Germany. The women, who had already secured a spot with a 20-6 win over top-seeded Mexico in the semifinals, completed a flawless tournament by defeating the Americans 27-20 in the final.
Frederique Morneau made three touchdown receptions for Canada, with quarterback Sara Parker connecting with Caroline Moquin-Joubert for another score. Parker, who threw a total of 23 touchdown passes, was named the women’s tournament’s most valuable player.
The Canadian men also earned a ticket to the 2028 Games by defeating Mexico 34-26 in the third-place match. Quarterback Michael O’Connor led the team with 294 passing yards and five touchdowns. Former NFL tight end Antony Auclair contributed 149 receiving yards and caught two of O’Connor’s touchdown passes, while Daniel Petermann and James Drysdale each scored twice.
Both the men’s and women’s Canadian flag football teams will compete at the 2028 Olympics, with the top two teams from each flag event, excluding the host United States, qualifying for the Games in Los Angeles. Canada’s head coach, Paul LaPolice, expressed pride in the team’s achievement, emphasizing the hard work and dedication that led to Olympic qualification.
The victory came as a significant milestone for Canadian flag football, with Coach LaPolice highlighting the positive direction the sport is heading in. In the men’s final, the U.S secured a 42-26 win over Italy.