The Canadian women’s national flag football team has secured a spot in the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles after defeating Mexico 20-6 in the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) world championship semifinals in Duesseldorf, Germany on Saturday.
Head coach Rachel Lessard expressed her pride in the team’s accomplishment, attributing it to their discipline, resilience, and unity throughout the qualifying process. The team’s success at the 2026 IFAF Flag Football world championships has solidified Canada’s presence on the international stage.
With flag football set to make its Olympic debut in 2028, the top two teams from both the men’s and women’s world championships earn direct qualification spots. However, if the host country, United States, advances to the finals, the top three finishers secure Olympic berths.
The Canadian women will face the U.S. in the world championship final after the U.S. defeated Britain 27-21 in the semifinals. Meanwhile, Mexico and Britain will vie for the remaining women’s Olympic spot in the bronze-medal match.
Despite a 41-36 loss to Italy in the men’s semifinals, Canada still has an opportunity to secure an early Olympic qualification by competing against Mexico in the bronze-medal match. The U.S. will face Italy for the men’s gold medal.
In addition to the world championships, countries can earn Olympic qualification through continental championships next year and a subsequent qualifying series. The Canadian men and women showcased their prowess with victories over American Samoa and Austria in the quarterfinals.
Football Canada’s CEO, Eva Havaris, commended the women’s team for their hard work and exceptional performance, emphasizing their well-deserved achievement in securing a spot at the Olympics.
Key players in the Canadian women’s team included Sara Parker, who passed for 107 yards, with Silvia Contreras leading the receivers with 38 yards and a touchdown. Caroline Moquin-Joubert scored two touchdowns, while Alexane Fournier also found the end zone. For the men’s team, James Drysdale, Jackson Tachinski, and Antony Auclair contributed to the scoreline in the semifinal match.