The Canadian women’s flag football team has secured their spot in the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles after defeating Mexico 20-6 in the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) world championship semifinal held in Duesseldorf, Germany. The head coach, Rachel Lessard, expressed her pride in the team’s discipline, resilience, and trust, emphasizing their well-deserved qualification for the upcoming Olympic Games.
Canada’s success reflects the growing prominence of flag football in the country, and the team is honored to contribute to this momentum at the 2028 Olympics. The top two countries in both the men’s and women’s world championships have earned their spots for the 2028 Olympics, with an additional opportunity for the top three finishers if the United States, as the host nation, reaches the finals.
The Canadian women’s team will 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 berth in the bronze-medal match.
On the men’s side, Canada faced a 41-36 defeat against Italy in the semifinals but still has a chance to qualify for the Olympics in the bronze-medal match against Mexico. The U.S. will compete against Italy for the men’s gold at the world championship.
In a statement, Eva Havaris, the CEO of Football Canada, commended the women’s flag football team for their hard work and outstanding performance, emphasizing their well-deserved place on the Olympic stage. Notably, Sara Parker excelled in the semifinal, passing for 107 yards, with Silvia Contreras leading the receivers and contributing a touchdown. Caroline Moquin-Joubert and Alexane Fournier also made significant contributions to the team’s success.
Looking ahead, countries can secure their spots for the Los Angeles Olympics through next year’s continental championships and a subsequent qualifying series. Canada’s victory over American Samoa and Austria in the quarterfinals, as well as their previous win against the U.S. at the USA Football Summer Series, have further showcased the team’s strength and determination.