Canada’s men and women have progressed to the quarterfinals of the flag football world championships held in Germany. The men’s team secured second place in their group with a 2-1 record after a 37-28 defeat against Japan. Due to Nigeria withdrawing from the tournament, Canada received an automatic win. Japan’s quarterback, Take Taniguchi, threw five touchdown passes, while Canada’s former CFL quarterback, Michael O’Connor, threw three TD passes. The men’s team is set to face American Samoa in the quarterfinals.
On the other hand, the women’s team finished on top of their group with a flawless 3-0 record following a 34-20 victory over Japan. Their next matchup in the quarterfinals will be against Austria, with a potential semifinal against the winner of Mexico and Spain. Quarterback Sara Parker was instrumental in the win against Japan, throwing four touchdown passes, two of which were caught by Caroline Moquin-Joubert. Additional touchdowns were scored by Alexane Fournier, Marianne Quirion, and Frederique Morneau, aiding Canada in overcoming a halftime deficit with 21 unanswered points.
Aside from the pursuit of a world title, teams are also vying for spots in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. The top two finishers at the world championships will secure Olympic berths, marking the sport’s debut in the Olympic program. Live streams of all matches from the event are available on CBCSports.ca and CBC Gem.
