Canada’s flag football teams had successful starts at the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) world championship in Düsseldorf, Germany. The Canadian women’s team triumphed over Panama, with quarterback Sara Parker throwing four touchdowns, three of which were caught by wide receiver Caroline Moquin-Joubert and the other by Laura Molimard, leading to a 27-14 victory.
In another match against Brazil, the Canadian women dominated the first half, securing a 20-0 lead and ultimately winning 36-6. Marianne Quirion and Frédérique Morneau each scored two touchdowns, while Laura Molimard added one more to their tally.
On the men’s side, Canada secured a 26-6 win against Austria, with quarterback Michael O’Connor impressively completing 19 out of 24 passes for four touchdowns. Teams at the championships are not only vying for the world title but also for a chance to qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. The top two teams from the world championships will secure spots in the Olympics, marking the sport’s debut on the Olympic program.
Both Canadian teams are set to 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. Viewers can catch all the live action on CBCSports.ca and CBC Gem.
Additionally, the Canadian men’s team was initially scheduled to face Nigeria, but due to visa issues, Nigeria withdrew from the tournament, granting Canada an automatic win.