Canada’s national 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 delivering four touchdowns – three caught by wide receiver Caroline Moquin-Joubert and one by Laura Molimard – securing 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 contributed two touchdown catches, with Molimard adding another.
The Canadian men’s team also had a strong start, defeating Austria 26-6 in their sole match on Thursday. Quarterback Michael O’Connor was instrumental in the win, completing 19 of 24 passes for four touchdowns.
Aside from vying for the world title, teams are competing for a chance to qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. The top two finishers in the world championships will secure spots in the Olympics, marking the sport’s debut on the program.
Both Canadian teams will conclude the group stage with matches against Japan on Friday. The men will play at 2 a.m. ET, while the women will follow at 4:30 a.m. ET. All event matches will be live-streamed on CBCSports.ca and CBC Gem.
Originally set to face Nigeria, the Canadian men’s team will receive a forfeit win as the Nigerian team withdrew from the tournament due to visa complications.