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. Due to Nigeria’s withdrawal from the tournament over visa issues, 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. In the quarterfinals, Canada will compete against American Samoa, who surprised the top-ranked U.S. team.
On the other hand, the women topped their group with a perfect 3-0 record after defeating Japan 34-20. Their quarterfinal match against Austria is scheduled for Saturday, with a potential semifinal against the winner of Mexico and Spain. Quarterback Sara Parker impressed with four touchdown passes against Japan, two of which were caught by Caroline Moquin-Joubert. Additional touchdown contributors included Alexane Fournier, Marianne Quirion, and Frederique Morneau. Canada made a remarkable comeback in the second half, scoring 21 unanswered points after trailing 20-13 at halftime.
The competition not only determines the world title but also offers a chance to secure spots in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. The top two teams from the world championships will earn Olympic berths, marking the sport’s debut in the Olympic program. All matches from the event can be live-streamed on CBCSports.ca and CBC Gem.