Canada is among the nations vying for the first available spots in the 2028 Los Angeles Games as flag football prepares for its Olympic debut. The world championships in Germany this week will determine two berths each for the men’s and women’s Olympics tournaments, with only six teams in each. The United States, a dominant force in flag football, secures an automatic entry, leaving three spots per gender to be decided in a qualifier opening in Montreal in June 2028.
While not a make-or-break event for Olympic qualification, securing a spot at the world championships would relieve the pressure of the last-chance qualifier in the following years.
In the tournament, sixteen teams compete in both men’s and women’s categories, divided into groups of four for the preliminary round. The top two teams from each group advance to the knockout stage, leading to the medal games on Sunday to determine the world champions and Olympic qualifiers.
The Canadian women’s team commences their group stage matches against Panama, followed by Brazil and Japan. Meanwhile, the Canadian men face Austria, Japan, and a default win against Nigeria due to visa issues.
Ranked fourth globally, the Canadian women have a strong history at the world championships but have not reached the final in recent years. The men’s team, with a lone world title in 2008, aims to improve their standing. The U.S. men’s team, pursuing their sixth consecutive world title, leads the rankings.
The inclusion of flag football in the 2028 Olympics sparked speculation about NFL and CFL stars participating. However, a recent exhibition tournament highlighted the distinct differences between flag and tackle football. Canada’s national teams, featuring experienced players like Antony Auclair and Sabrina Gervais, are well-prepared for the world championships.
The flag football world championships will be broadcast live on CBC Gem and the CBC Sports website, starting at 2 a.m. ET on Thursday.
