Canada’s flag football teams had a successful start at the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) world championship in Düsseldorf, Germany. The Canadian women’s team secured a win against Panama, with quarterback Sara Parker throwing four touchdowns, three of which were caught by wide receiver Caroline Moquin-Joubert and one by Laura Molimard, resulting in a 27-14 victory. In their match against Brazil, the Canadian women dominated the first half, leading 20-0 and ultimately winning 36-6. Marianne Quirion and Frédérique Morneau each caught two touchdowns in the game, with Molimard adding another.
The Canadian men’s team also began their campaign with a victory, defeating Austria 26-6, with quarterback Michael O’Connor completing 19 of 24 passes for four touchdowns. Beyond the world title, teams are also vying for a chance to qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. The top two finishers at the world championships will secure spots in the Olympics, marking the sport’s debut in the program.
Both Canadian teams will conclude the group stage with matches against Japan on Friday. The men will play at 2 a.m. ET, while the women will compete at 4:30 a.m. ET. All event matches will be available for live streaming on CBCSports.ca and CBC Gem. The Canadian men were initially set to face Nigeria, but due to visa issues leading to Nigeria’s withdrawal from the tournament, Canada will receive an automatic win.
