Canada’s male and female flag football teams have progressed to the quarterfinals of the flag football world championships in Germany. The Canadian men suffered a 37-28 defeat to Japan, finishing second in their group with a 2-1 record. Due to Nigeria’s withdrawal from the tournament because of visa issues, Canada received an automatic win. Japan’s quarterback, Take Taniguchi, threw five touchdown passes, while former CFL quarterback Michael O’Connor contributed with three TD passes for Canada. In the quarterfinals, Canada will face American Samoa, who caused an upset by defeating the top-ranked U.S. team.
On the other hand, the Canadian women topped their group with a flawless 3-0 record after defeating Japan 34-20. Their next challenge in the quarterfinals will be against Austria, with a potential semifinal match against the winner of Mexico versus Spain. Quarterback Sara Parker showcased an impressive performance by throwing four touchdown passes against Japan, two of which were caught by Caroline Moquin-Joubert. Additionally, Alexane Fournier and Marianne Quirion also contributed with TD receptions, while Frederique Morneau scored a rushing touchdown, leading Canada to a comeback victory by erasing a halftime deficit of 20-13 with 21 unanswered points in the second half.
Aside from the quest for a world title, teams are also vying for spots in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. The top two finishers in the world championships will secure Olympic berths, marking the sport’s debut on the Olympic program. Viewers can catch all the matches of the event through live streaming on CBCSports.ca and CBC Gem.