Canada’s male and female teams have progressed to the quarterfinals of the flag football world championships held in Germany. The Canadian men were defeated 37-28 by Japan, securing a second-place finish in their group with a 2-1 record. Originally set to play Nigeria, the Canadian team received an automatic victory as Nigeria withdrew due to visa complications. Japan’s quarterback, Take Taniguchi, threw five touchdown passes, while Canada’s former CFL quarterback, Michael O’Connor, contributed with three TD passes.
In the upcoming quarterfinal match on Saturday, the Canadian men will face American Samoa, who caused an upset by defeating the top-seeded U.S. team. On the other hand, the Canadian women clinched the top spot in their group with a flawless 3-0 record after a 34-20 victory over Japan. They are scheduled to face Austria in the quarterfinals, with a potential semifinal match against the winner of Mexico and Spain at stake.
During the match against Japan, quarterback Sara Parker showcased her skills by throwing four touchdown passes, two of which were caught by Caroline Moquin-Joubert. Other notable contributions came from Alexane Fournier, Marianne Quirion, and Frederique Morneau, who collectively helped Canada secure a comeback victory after trailing 20-13 at halftime.
Aside from vying for the world title, teams are also competing for spots in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. The top two teams from the world championships will secure these coveted Olympic berths as flag football makes its debut in the Olympic program. Fans can catch all the tournament action through live streaming on CBCSports.ca and CBC Gem.