Canada’s men and women have progressed to the quarterfinals of the flag football world championships held in Germany. The Canadian men secured a second-place finish in their group with a 2-1 record, losing 37-28 to Japan. They were supposed to play Nigeria, but Nigeria withdrew due to visa issues, granting Canada an automatic win. Japan’s Take Taniguchi threw five touchdown passes, while Canada’s Michael O’Connor threw three. The men will now face American Samoa in the quarterfinals after American Samoa upset the top-ranked U.S. team.
On the other hand, the Canadian women dominated their group with a 3-0 record, defeating Japan 34-20. They are set to clash with Austria in the quarterfinals, with a potential semifinal against the winner of Mexico and Spain. Sara Parker, the Canadian quarterback, threw four touchdown passes in the match 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 by scoring 21 unanswered points in the second half. Apart from Parker and Moquin-Joubert, Alexane Fournier, Marianne Quirion, and Frederique Morneau also contributed with touchdowns. The world championships hold significance beyond the title, as teams are vying for a chance to qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. The top two finishers in the championships will secure Olympic berths, marking the sport’s debut in the Olympic program.
All matches of the event will be live-streamed on CBCSports.ca and CBC Gem for viewers to enjoy.