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 began with a win against Panama, with quarterback Sara Parker throwing four touchdowns, three to wide receiver Caroline Moquin-Joubert and one to Laura Molimard, securing a 27-14 victory. In their match against Brazil, the Canadian women dominated the first half, leading 20-0, and went on to win 36-6.
Marianne Quirion and Frédérique Morneau each caught two touchdown passes in the game against Brazil, with Molimard adding another. The Canadian men’s team started their campaign with a 26-6 win over Austria, with quarterback Michael O’Connor completing 19 of 24 passes for four touchdowns.
Beyond the world title, teams are also competing for a chance to qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. The top two finishers at the world championships will secure spots for the Olympics, marking the sport’s debut in the program.
Both Canadian teams will conclude the group stage on Friday with matches against Japan. The men’s team will play at 2 a.m. ET, followed by the women’s team at 4:30 a.m. ET. All event matches will be available for live streaming on CBCSports.ca and CBC Gem.
The Canadian men were initially set to face Nigeria, but due to visa issues leading to the Nigerian team’s withdrawal from the tournament, Canada will receive an automatic win.