Canada is one of the nations aiming to secure spots for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics at the world championships in Germany, where flag football will debut in the Olympics. The men’s and women’s tournaments each consist of six teams, with two spots available for grabs. The United States, a strong flag football nation, automatically qualifies as the host, leaving three spots for each gender to be determined in a two-stage qualifier in Montreal in June 2028.
Although the world championships do not guarantee an Olympic ticket, it would be advantageous to secure a spot and avoid the last-chance qualifier in the following years. Sixteen teams in both men’s and women’s categories are competing in Germany, divided into groups of four for the preliminary matches. The top two teams from each group progress to the knockout stage starting on Saturday, with medal matches scheduled for Sunday to determine the world champions and Olympic qualifiers.
The Canadian women start their group stage matches against Panama, followed by Brazil and Japan. On the other hand, the Canadian men face Austria and Japan in their group matches and will receive a default win against Nigeria due to visa issues.
Canada’s women’s team holds the fourth rank globally, with previous world championship victories in 2010 and 2014 and a bronze in 2018. The men’s team claimed their sole world title in 2008 and aims to improve on previous bronze finishes. The U.S., seeking a sixth consecutive world title, is currently ranked first globally.
The addition of flag football to the 2028 Olympics sparked speculations about NFL and CFL stars participating, but the differences between flag and tackle football were evident during a men’s exhibition tournament in March in Los Angeles. The physical and strategic aspects of flag football were highlighted as the non-contact nature favored players with agility and technique over sheer size and strength.
The Canadian national teams, featuring players with NFL and CFL backgrounds, are showcasing their skills at the world championships. The tournament can be watched live on CBC Gem and the CBC Sports website, starting at 2 a.m. ET on Thursday.
