Canada is aiming to secure spots in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics as flag football makes its Olympic debut. The world championships in Germany this week will determine two berths each for the men’s and women’s Olympics tournaments, consisting of six teams. The United States, a flag football powerhouse, automatically qualifies as the host, with the remaining spots decided by a two-stage qualifier in Montreal in June 2028.
While the world championships do not directly determine Olympic qualification, teams would prefer to secure a spot now rather than rely on the last-chance qualifier. Sixteen teams in both the men’s and women’s tournaments are competing in Germany, split into groups for the preliminary round. The top two teams from each group move on to the knockout stage, leading to the medal games on Sunday, where Olympic spots will be decided.
The Canadian women will face Panama, Brazil, and Japan in the group stage, while the men will play against Austria, Japan, and receive a default win due to Nigeria’s withdrawal. The Canadian women’s team is ranked fourth globally, while the men are ranked 10th. The U.S. men’s team, aiming for a sixth consecutive world title, holds the top rank.
The Olympics’ inclusion of flag football in 2028 sparked excitement about potential NFL and CFL stars participating. However, a recent exhibition tournament revealed the distinct differences between flag and tackle football, showcasing the specialized skills and strategies required for flag football success. Canada’s national teams feature notable players like Antony Auclair and Sabrina Gervais.
The flag football world championships can be watched live on CBC Gem and the CBC Sports website, starting Thursday at 2 a.m. ET.