Canada’s flag football teams had a strong start at the IFAF World Championship in Düsseldorf, Germany, on Thursday. The Canadian women’s team began with a win against Panama, with quarterback Sara Parker throwing four touchdowns, three to wide receiver Caroline Moquin-Joubert and one to Laura Molimard, securing a 27-14 victory. In their game against Brazil, the Canadian women dominated the first half, leading 20-0 by halftime and ultimately winning 36-6.
Marianne Quirion and Frédérique Morneau both contributed with two touchdown catches each, while Molimard added another in the game. On the men’s side, the Canadian team started their campaign with a 26-6 win over Austria, led by quarterback Michael O’Connor who completed 19 of 24 passes for four touchdowns.
Aside from the quest for a world title, teams are also aiming for a spot in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. The top-two finishers at the world championships will secure Olympic berths in the sport’s Olympic debut.
Both Canadian teams will conclude the group stage with matches against Japan on Friday. The men will play at 2 a.m. ET, followed by the women at 4:30 a.m. ET. All matches are available for live streaming on CBCSports.ca and CBC Gem.
Originally set to play Nigeria, the Canadian men’s team will receive an automatic win as Nigeria withdrew from the tournament due to visa issues.