With flag football poised to debut in the Olympics, Canada is vying for the initial spots in the 2028 Los Angeles Games at the ongoing world championships in Germany. The competition will determine two berths each for the men’s and women’s Olympics tournaments, consisting of six teams each. The United States, a strong force in flag football, has an automatic entry, leaving three spots per gender up for grabs through a two-stage qualifier in Montreal in June 2028.
Although not essential for securing an Olympic berth, performing well at the world championships would be advantageous to avoid the pressure of the last-chance qualifier in the following years.
The tournament in Germany features 16 teams in both the men’s and women’s categories, divided into groups of four for the preliminary round held on Thursday and Friday. The top two teams from each group will progress to the knockout stage commencing on Saturday, with the medal matches scheduled for Sunday to determine the world champions and allocate the coveted Olympic spots.
In the women’s category, Canada, ranked fourth globally, faces Panama, Brazil, and Japan in the group stage. The Canadian men, currently ranked 10th, encounter Austria, Japan, and a default win against Nigeria due to visa issues.
The Canadian women’s team boasts past successes, having won the world championship in 2010 and 2014 and clinching bronze in 2018. However, they aim to return to the final four after recent misses. The men’s team, with a world title in 2008, is striving to reclaim glory after falling short in subsequent tournaments.
The Olympics’ addition of flag football for 2028 sparked speculation about NFL and CFL players joining the national teams, but the distinctions between flag and tackle football were evident in a recent exhibition tournament where flag football players outperformed well-known NFL stars. Canada’s national teams feature experienced players like former NFL tight end Antony Auclair and CFL champion Marc-Antoine Dequoy in the men’s squad, with veteran players Sabrina Gervais and quarterback Sarah Parker leading the women’s team.
The flag football world championships are available for live viewing on CBC Gem and the CBC Sports website, starting at 2 a.m. ET on Thursday.