The Canadian women’s flag football team has secured their spot at 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.
Expressing her pride in the team, head coach Rachel Lessard stated, “Qualifying for the 2028 Olympic Games is a testament to the discipline, resilience, and trust that this team has cultivated throughout this journey. Their qualification at the 2026 IFAF Flag Football world championships is well-deserved.”
The top two teams from both the men’s and women’s world championships have earned a spot at the 2028 Olympics, where flag football will make its debut. If the United States, as the host country, reaches the final, the top three finishers will qualify for the Games.
In the upcoming world title match, the Canadian women will face the U.S., who emerged victorious with a 27-21 win against Britain in the semifinals. Meanwhile, Mexico and Britain will compete for the remaining women’s Olympic berth in the bronze-medal game.
Although the Canadian men suffered a 41-36 defeat to Italy in the semifinals, they still have a chance to secure an early Olympic ticket in the bronze-medal match against Mexico. The U.S. will face Italy for the men’s gold in the championship match.
Apart from the world championships, countries can also qualify for the Los Angeles Olympics through continental championships next year and a subsequent qualifying series.
The Canadian women’s team’s journey to the Olympics has been lauded by Eva Havaris, the chief executive officer of Football Canada, who commended their hard work and outstanding performance. The team’s achievement in securing their place at the Olympic stage was celebrated, with high hopes for their performance in Los Angeles.
Key players in the semifinals included Sara Parker, who passed for 107 yards, Silvia Contreras leading the receiving with 38 yards and a touchdown, Caroline Moquin-Joubert scoring two touchdowns, and Alexane Fournier also finding the end zone. For the men’s team, James Drysdale, Jackson Tachinski, and Antony Auclair contributed significantly in the semifinal match.