Canada’s male and female teams have progressed to the quarterfinals of the flag football world championships held in Germany. The men’s team, after a 37-28 loss to Japan, secured the second spot in their group with a 2-1 standing. Originally set to play Nigeria, the Canadian team received a walkover victory as Nigeria withdrew due to visa issues. Japan’s quarterback Take Taniguchi threw five touchdown passes, while former CFL quarterback Michael O’Connor contributed three TD passes for Canada. In the upcoming quarterfinals, Canada will face American Samoa, who surprisingly defeated the top-seeded U.S. team.
On the other hand, the women’s team topped their group with a flawless 3-0 record following a 34-20 victory over Japan. Their next challenge will be against Austria in the quarterfinals, with a potential semifinal match against the winner of Mexico and Spain. Quarterback Sara Parker showcased an impressive performance with four touchdown passes, two of which were received by Caroline Moquin-Joubert. Additionally, Alexane Fournier, Marianne Quirion, and Frederique Morneau also made notable contributions to Canada’s victory, overturning a 20-13 halftime deficit with 21 unanswered points in the second half.
Aside from vying for the world title, teams are also competing for a chance to qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. The top two finishers at the world championships will secure spots in the Olympics, marking the sport’s debut on the Olympic program. All matches from the event are available for live streaming on CBCSports.ca and CBC Gem.
