The Canadian women’s flag football team has secured a 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.
Rachel Lessard, the head coach of the Canadian women’s team, expressed her pride in the team’s accomplishment, highlighting their discipline, resilience, and teamwork throughout the process. She emphasized that the team has earned this opportunity through their hard work and dedication.
The top two countries from both the men’s and women’s world championships will qualify for the 2028 Olympics when flag football debuts at the event. However, if the United States, as the host nation, reaches either final, the top three finishers will secure their spots in Los Angeles.
The Canadian women’s team will face the United States in the world championship final after the U.S. defeated Britain 27-21 in the semifinals. Mexico and Britain will compete for the remaining women’s Olympic berth in the bronze-medal match.
Despite the Canadian men’s 41-36 loss to Italy in the semifinals, they still have a chance to qualify for the Olympics through the bronze-medal match against Mexico. The U.S. will play against Italy for the men’s gold at the world championship.
In addition to the world championships, countries can also qualify for the Los Angeles Olympics through next year’s continental championships and a subsequent qualifying series.
Eva Havaris, the chief executive officer of Football Canada, commended the women’s flag football team for their hard work and outstanding performance. She expressed excitement about their official qualification for the Olympics and looks forward to their performance in Los Angeles.
During the semifinals, Sara Parker passed for 107 yards for the women’s team, with Silvia Contreras leading in receiving yards and scoring a touchdown. Caroline Moquin-Joubert and Alexane Fournier also contributed touchdowns. For the men’s team, James Drysdale, Jackson Tachinski, and Antony Auclair scored in the semifinal match.