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 a world championship semifinal hosted by the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) in Duesseldorf, Germany.
Expressing her pride in the team, head coach Rachel Lessard stated that qualifying for the 2028 Olympics is a testament to the team’s discipline, resilience, and trust built throughout the process. She emphasized that the team has rightfully earned the opportunity through their performance at the 2026 IFAF Flag Football world championships.
With flag football set to debut at the Olympic Games in 2028, the top two countries from both the men’s and women’s world championships automatically qualify. However, if the United States, as the host nation, reaches the final, the top three finishers will secure their spots in Los Angeles.
The Canadian women’s team is now set to face the United States, who emerged victorious with a 27-21 win over Britain in the semifinals, for the world title. Meanwhile, Mexico and Britain will compete for the remaining women’s Olympic berth in the bronze-medal match.
In the men’s division, Canada faced a 41-36 defeat against Italy in the semifinals but still had a chance to secure an early Olympic ticket by competing against Mexico in the bronze-medal match. The United States, on the other hand, secured a spot in the men’s final by defeating Mexico 42-40.
Apart from the world championships, countries can also qualify for the 2028 Olympics through continental championships next year and a subsequent qualifying series.
Highlighting the team’s hard work and outstanding performance, Football Canada’s CEO, Eva Havaris, commended the women’s flag football team for their achievement. She expressed excitement about seeing the team compete on the Olympic stage in Los Angeles.
During the semifinals, Sara Parker led the way for the women’s team with 107 passing yards, while Silvia Contreras and Caroline Moquin-Joubert made significant contributions with touchdowns. In the men’s semifinal loss, James Drysdale led the Canadian team with 76 receiving yards and a touchdown, along with scores from Jackson Tachinski and Antony Auclair.
