Canada’s male and female teams have progressed to the quarterfinals of the flag football world championships in Germany. The 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 a walkover victory after Nigeria withdrew due to visa complications. Japan’s Take Taniguchi threw five touchdown passes, while Canada’s Michael O’Connor, a former CFL quarterback, threw three TD passes. In the quarterfinals, Canada will face American Samoa, who upset the top-seeded U.S. team.
On the other hand, the women’s team topped their group with a flawless 3-0 record following a 34-20 victory over Japan. They are scheduled to meet Austria in the quarterfinals, with a potential semifinal against the winner of the Mexico-Spain matchup. Quarterback Sara Parker led the charge with four touchdown passes against Japan, two of which were caught by Caroline Moquin-Joubert. Additional touchdowns were scored by Alexane Fournier and Marianne Quirion, with Frederique Morneau adding a rushing touchdown. Canada rallied in the second half to overcome a 20-13 halftime deficit with 21 unanswered points.
Beyond the quest for a world title, teams are vying for spots in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. The top two finishers at the world championships will secure spots for the sport’s Olympic debut. All matches of the event can be streamed live on CBCSports.ca and CBC Gem.