The Canadian national women’s flag football team has secured a spot at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles after defeating Mexico 20-6 in a semifinal match at the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) world championship in Duesseldorf, Germany. Head coach Rachel Lessard expressed her pride in the team’s achievement and credited their discipline, resilience, and trust for earning the Olympic qualification.
Canada’s success signifies the growth of flag football in the country, and they are ready to carry this momentum to the 2028 Olympics. The top two teams from both the men’s and women’s world championships will automatically qualify for the 2028 Olympics, with a provision for a third spot if the host country, the United States, reaches the final.
The Canadian women’s team will face the U.S. in the world championship final, while Mexico and Britain will compete for the remaining women’s Olympic berth in the bronze-medal match. Despite a 41-36 loss to Italy in the men’s semifinal, Canada still has a chance to secure an early Olympic ticket by playing against Mexico in the bronze-medal match.
The U.S. and Italy will contend for the men’s gold medal at the world championship. Apart from the world championships, countries can also qualify for the 2028 Olympics through continental championships and a subsequent qualifying series.
Football Canada’s CEO, Eva Havaris, praised the women’s team for their hard work and outstanding performance, expressing excitement for their upcoming appearance on the Olympic stage. Notable performances in the semifinals included Sara Parker’s 107 passing yards and Silvia Contreras leading in receiving yards with 38 and a touchdown. Caroline Moquin-Joubert scored two touchdowns, while Alexane Fournier also found the end zone for the women’s team. In the men’s team, James Drysdale, Jackson Tachinski, and Antony Auclair contributed to the scoring in the semifinal match.