Canada is one of the countries vying for spots in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, as flag football prepares for its Olympic debut. The world championships in Germany this week will determine the first available spots for the men’s and women’s tournaments. With only six teams in each tournament, the United States, a dominant force in flag football, has an automatic entry. The remaining spots will be decided through a two-stage qualifier in Montreal in June 2028.
While securing a spot in the Olympics is not imperative at these world championships, it would be advantageous to avoid the last-chance qualifier in the following two years.
The tournament features 16 teams in both the men’s and women’s categories, divided into groups for the preliminary rounds. The top two teams from each group will progress to the knockout stage, with the medal matches determining the world champions and the Olympic qualifiers.
The Canadian women’s team will face Panama, Brazil, and Japan in the group stage matches. On the other hand, the Canadian men’s team will compete against Austria, Japan, and received a default win against Nigeria due to visa issues.
Currently ranked fourth in the world, the Canadian women have a strong history in flag football, having won world championships in 2010 and 2014. The men’s team, ranked 10th globally, aims to improve on their past performances and secure a spot in the Olympics.
Although there was speculation about NFL and CFL stars participating in flag football at the Olympics, it became evident at a recent exhibition tournament that the two sports require different skill sets. Canada’s national teams are showcasing their talents at the world championships, with notable players like Antony Auclair and Sabrina Gervais leading the charge.
The flag football world championships can be watched live on CBC Gem and the CBC Sports website, starting at 2 a.m. ET on Thursday.