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 triumphed over Panama in their opening match, with quarterback Sara Parker throwing four touchdowns, three caught by wide receiver Caroline Moquin-Joubert and another by Laura Molimard, leading to a 27-14 victory. In their game against Brazil, the Canadian women dominated with a 20-0 lead at halftime, ultimately winning 36-6. Marianne Quirion and Frédérique Morneau each scored two touchdown catches, while Molimard added another.
The Canadian men’s team kicked off their campaign with a 26-6 win against Austria. Quarterback Michael O’Connor excelled by completing 19 of 24 passes for four touchdowns. Beyond the quest for a 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 qualification, marking the sport’s debut on the Olympic program.
Both Canadian teams will conclude the group stage on Friday with matches against Japan, with the men playing at 2 a.m. ET and the women at 4:30 a.m. ET. All event matches will be live-streamed 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.