Canada’s male and female teams have progressed to the quarterfinals of the flag football world championships in Germany. The men suffered a 37-28 defeat against Japan, securing second place in their group with a 2-1 record. Originally set to play Nigeria, the Canadian team received a walkover 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 managed three TD passes. They are set to compete against American Samoa in the quarterfinals, following American Samoa’s surprise victory over the top-ranked U.S. team.
On the other hand, the women topped their group with a flawless 3-0 record after defeating Japan 34-20. They are scheduled to face Austria in the quarterfinals, with a potential semifinal match against the winner of Mexico and Spain. Quarterback Sara Parker impressed with 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, who netted a rushing touchdown. Canada made a remarkable comeback in the second half, overturning a 20-13 halftime deficit with 21 unanswered points.
Beyond the quest for the world title, teams are vying for spots in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. The top two teams from the world championships will secure Olympic berths, marking the sport’s debut in the Olympic program. All tournament matches are available for live streaming on CBCSports.ca and CBC Gem.