The Canadian women’s flag football team has secured a spot at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles after defeating Mexico 20-6 in the semifinals of the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) world championship held in Duesseldorf, Germany.
Expressing her pride in the team, Canadian women’s team head coach Rachel Lessard emphasized the hard work, resilience, and unity that led to their qualification for the 2028 Olympics. The team’s success reflects the growing prominence of Canadian flag football, and they are eager to continue this momentum at the upcoming Olympics.
In the men’s and women’s world championships, the top two countries automatically qualified for the 2028 Olympics, with an additional spot available if the host country, the United States, advanced to 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 semifinals, the Canadian men still have a chance to secure an early Olympic spot in the bronze-medal match against Mexico. The U.S. and Italy will vie for the men’s gold at the world championship.
In a statement, Football Canada’s CEO Eva Havaris lauded the women’s team for their hard work and outstanding performance, expressing excitement about their official qualification for the Olympic Games.
Key players in the semifinals included Sara Parker, who passed for 107 yards, and Silvia Contreras, the leading receiver with 38 yards and a touchdown. Caroline Moquin-Joubert and Alexane Fournier also contributed touchdowns for the women’s team, while James Drysdale, Jackson Tachinski, and Antony Auclair scored for the Canadian men.
Countries can also earn Olympic berths through continental championships and a subsequent qualifying series. Earlier in the championship, the Canadian men defeated American Samoa 24-14, while the women emerged victorious with a 40-12 win over Austria. Additionally, the Canadian women secured a close 34-33 victory against the U.S. at the USA Football Summer Series on June 19.