Canada is one of the nations aiming to secure the first available positions in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics as flag football prepares for its Olympic premiere. At the ongoing world championships in Germany, two spots each for the men’s and women’s Olympics tournaments are at stake, with only six teams in each. The United States, a dominant force in flag football, secures an automatic entry, leaving the remaining three spots per gender to be determined through a two-stage qualifier in Montreal in June 2028.
Although not crucial for Olympic qualification, winning a spot in these world championships would be advantageous, eliminating the need to stress over the last-chance qualifier in the following two years.
The setup for the world championships involves sixteen teams competing in both the men’s and women’s tournaments in Germany. These teams are divided into groups of four for the initial round on Thursday and Friday. The top two teams from each group advance to the knockout stage starting on Saturday, leading to the medal games on Sunday, which will determine the world champions and the Olympic qualifiers.
Canada’s women start their group stage matches by facing Panama, followed by Brazil, and then Japan. The Canadian men begin against Austria, play Japan, and receive a free win against Nigeria due to visa issues faced by the latter.
The Canadian women’s team holds the fourth position globally, trailing Mexico, the United States, and Great Britain. Canada has previously won world championships in 2010 and 2014, securing bronze in 2018. On the other hand, the Canadian men clinched their solitary world title in 2008 and have not medaled since. The U.S. is chasing its sixth consecutive world title, currently ranked first.
The addition of flag football to the 2028 Olympics sparked speculation about NFL and CFL stars participating for the U.S. and Canada. However, the distinction between flag and tackle football was evident at a men’s flag exhibition tournament in Los Angeles, where NFL stars were outperformed by flag football players due to the game’s non-contact nature and strategic nuances.
Canada’s national teams feature notable players such as former NFL tight end Antony Auclair and CFL safety Marc-Antoine Dequoy on the men’s side, while the women’s team is led by veteran Sabrina Gervais and quarterback Sarah Parker. The competition can be streamed live on CBC Gem and the CBC Sports website, commencing on Thursday at 2 a.m. ET.
