Canada’s male and female flag football teams have progressed to the quarterfinals of the flag football world championships held in Germany. The men’s team, after losing 37-28 to Japan, secured a second-place finish in their group with a 2-1 record. Originally set to compete against Nigeria, the Canadian team received a walkover victory as Nigeria withdrew from the tournament due to visa complications. In the match against Japan, Japan’s quarterback Take Taniguchi threw five touchdown passes, while Canada’s former CFL quarterback Michael O’Connor managed to throw three TD passes.
Moving forward, the Canadian men’s team is scheduled to play against American Samoa in the quarterfinals on Saturday, following American Samoa’s surprise victory over the top-ranked U.S. team. On the other hand, the women’s team secured the top spot in their group with a flawless 3-0 record after defeating Japan 34-20. They are set to face Austria in the quarterfinals on Saturday, with a potential semifinal match against the victor of the Mexico-Spain encounter.
Quarterback Sara Parker shined in the women’s victory over Japan, throwing four touchdown passes, two of which were caught by Caroline Moquin-Joubert. Additionally, Alexane Fournier, Marianne Quirion, and Frederique Morneau also contributed to the team’s success with TD receptions and a rushing touchdown.
Apart from the quest for a world title, teams are vying for a chance to secure a spot in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. The top two teams from the world championships will earn Olympic berths, as flag football makes its debut in the Olympic program. All matches of the tournament are available for live streaming on CBCSports.ca and CBC Gem for viewers to enjoy the action.
To watch the thrilling moments from Canada’s victory over Japan in the women’s category, fans can tune in to the live stream on CBCSports.ca and CBC Gem.