Canada’s male and female flag football teams progressed to the quarterfinals of the flag football world championships in Germany on Friday after defeating Japan in their final round-robin matches. The men clinched a 37-28 victory, securing second place in their group with a 2-1 record. Originally set to face Nigeria, they were granted an automatic win as Nigeria withdrew due to visa complications. In the quarterfinals, the men will meet American Samoa, who caused an upset by defeating the top-ranked U.S. team.
The women topped their group with a flawless 3-0 record after a 34-20 win. They are scheduled to face Austria in the quarterfinals on Saturday.
Apart from vying for the world title, teams are also competing for spots in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. The top two finishers at the world championships will secure Olympic berths as the sport makes its debut in the Olympic program.
Viewers can watch all matches from the event live on CBCSports.ca and CBC Gem.