Canada’s male and female flag football teams have progressed to the quarterfinals of the flag football world championships in Germany. The Canadian men faced a 37-28 defeat against Japan, securing a 2-1 record in their group. Due to Nigeria’s withdrawal from the tournament over visa issues, Canada received an automatic win against them. Japan’s quarterback, Take Taniguchi, excelled with five touchdown passes, while Canada’s former CFL quarterback, Michael O’Connor, managed three TD passes. In the quarterfinals, the Canadian men will compete against American Samoa, who caused an upset by defeating the top-ranked U.S. team.

On the other hand, the Canadian women topped their group with a flawless 3-0 record following a 34-20 victory over Japan. They are set to face Austria in the quarterfinals on Saturday, with a potential semifinal against the winner of Mexico and Spain. Quarterback Sara Parker showcased her skills with four touchdown passes against Japan, including two to Caroline Moquin-Joubert. Additional touchdowns were caught by Alexane Fournier and Marianne Quirion, while Frederique Morneau scored a rushing touchdown. Canada overcame a halftime deficit of 20-13 by scoring 21 unanswered points in the second half.

Aside from vying for the world title, teams are also eyeing a chance to qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. The top two finishers at the world championships will secure spots in the Olympics, marking the sport’s debut on the Olympic program. All matches of the event will be live-streamed on CBCSports.ca and CBC Gem.