The Canadian women’s flag football team has secured a spot in the 2028 Olympic Games to be held in Los Angeles after defeating Mexico 20-6 in a semifinal match at the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) world championship in Duesseldorf, Germany. Head coach Rachel Lessard expressed pride in the team’s discipline and resilience, highlighting their qualification for the Olympics as a testament to their hard work and unity.
The top two teams from the men’s and women’s world championships have earned their spots for the 2028 Olympics, with the possibility of a third team qualifying if the United States, as the host nation, reaches the final. The Canadian women will face the U.S. in the world championship final, while Mexico and Britain will compete for the remaining women’s Olympic berth in the bronze-medal match.
Despite a 41-36 loss to Italy in the men’s semifinal, the Canadian men have a chance to secure an early Olympic ticket in the bronze-medal match against Mexico. The U.S. and Italy will battle for the men’s gold at the world championship.
The road to the 2028 Olympics includes opportunities for countries to qualify through continental championships and a subsequent qualifying series. Canada’s success in the quarterfinals, with the men defeating American Samoa 24-14 and the women triumphing over Austria 40-12, has been a significant step towards Olympic qualification.
Football Canada’s CEO, Eva Havaris, commended the women’s flag football team for their hard work and outstanding performance, expressing excitement for their journey to the Olympic stage. Notable performances in the semifinals included Sara Parker passing for 107 yards, Silvia Contreras leading in receiving yards, and Caroline Moquin-Joubert and Alexane Fournier scoring touchdowns for the women. James Drysdale, Jackson Tachinski, and Antony Auclair made significant contributions for the Canadian men in their semifinal match.