The Canadian national women’s flag football squad has secured their spot at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Their journey to the Olympics was solidified after a convincing 20-6 victory over Mexico in the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) world championship semifinal held in Duesseldorf, Germany.
Expressing her pride in the team, head coach Rachel Lessard praised the discipline, resilience, and trust that the team had demonstrated throughout the process. The team’s qualification for the 2028 Olympics signifies the growth of Canadian flag football and their commitment to carrying forward this momentum to the upcoming games.
In the men’s and women’s world championships, the top two nations earned direct qualification for the 2028 Olympics, where flag football will debut as an Olympic sport. However, with the United States already qualifying as the host nation, the top three finishers would secure spots for the Olympics if the U.S. advanced to either final.
The Canadian women’s team is set to face the U.S. in the world championship final after the U.S. secured a 27-21 victory over Britain in the semifinals. Mexico and Britain will compete for the remaining women’s Olympic slot in the bronze-medal match.
Despite a 41-36 loss to Italy in the men’s semifinal, Canada still has an opportunity to secure an early Olympic berth in the bronze-medal match against Mexico. The U.S. emerged victorious in their semifinal against Mexico, setting up a showdown with Italy for the men’s gold at the world championship.
Apart from the world championships, countries can also qualify for the Los Angeles Olympics through continental championships next year and a subsequent qualifying series. In the quarterfinals, Canada’s men defeated American Samoa 24-14, while the women triumphed over Austria with a score of 40-12.
The women’s team previously defeated the U.S. 34-33 at the USA Football Summer Series on June 19, showcasing their strength in the sport. Football Canada’s CEO, Eva Havaris, commended the team’s dedication and outstanding performance, emphasizing that their qualification for the Olympics was well-deserved.
During the semifinals, Sara Parker excelled by passing for 107 yards, with Silvia Contreras leading the team in receiving yards and scoring a touchdown. Caroline Moquin-Joubert scored two touchdowns, while Alexane Fournier also contributed with a touchdown. In the men’s semifinal, James Drysdale stood out with 76 receiving yards and a touchdown, supported by Jackson Tachinski and Antony Auclair, who also found the end zone.
