Canada’s men and women have progressed to the quarterfinals of the flag football world championships in Germany. The men, with a 2-1 record, secured a spot despite a 37-28 loss to Japan. Due to visa issues, Nigeria withdrew, granting Canada an automatic win. Japan’s Take Taniguchi threw five touchdown passes, while Canada’s Michael O’Connor threw three. In the quarterfinals, they will face American Samoa, who upset the top-ranked U.S. team.
On the other hand, the women topped their group with a flawless 3-0 record after defeating Japan 34-20. They are set to play against Austria in the quarterfinals, with a potential semifinal clash against the winner of Mexico and Spain. Sara Parker, the quarterback, showcased her skill with four touchdown passes against Japan, two of which were caught by Caroline Moquin-Joubert.
In a remarkable comeback, Canada’s women erased a halftime deficit of 20-13 with 21 unanswered points in the second half. Besides the pursuit of the world title, teams are vying for a spot in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. The top two finishers at the world championships will secure Olympic berths as flag football makes its Olympic debut.
All matches from the event can be live-streamed on CBCSports.ca and CBC Gem.