Canada’s male and female teams have progressed to the quarterfinals of the flag football world championships held in Germany. The men’s team secured a place in the quarterfinals despite a 37-28 loss to Japan, finishing second in their group with a 2-1 record. Due to visa issues, Nigeria withdrew from the scheduled match against Canada, granting them an automatic win. Japan’s quarterback, Take Taniguchi, threw five touchdown passes, while Canada’s former CFL quarterback, Michael O’Connor, threw three TD passes. In the upcoming quarterfinals, Canada will face American Samoa, who caused an upset by defeating the top-ranked 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. In the quarterfinals, they are set to play against Austria on Saturday, with a potential semifinal matchup against the winner of the Mexico-Spain game. Quarterback Sara Parker showcased an impressive performance, throwing four touchdown passes against Japan, two of which were caught by Caroline Moquin-Joubert. Additional touchdowns were scored by Alexane Fournier, Marianne Quirion, and Frederique Morneau, leading Canada to a remarkable comeback in the second half after trailing 20-13 at halftime.
Aside from vying for the world title, teams are also competing for a spot in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, where flag football will make its debut. The top two finishers at the world championships will secure Olympic berths. All matches of the event are available for live streaming on CBCSports.ca and CBC Gem for viewers to enjoy the action.