Team Canada qualifies for LA 2028 in men’s flag football
The Canadian men’s flag football team secured a quota spot for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games by winning the bronze medal at the IFAF World Flag Football Championships.
In a thrilling match, head coach Paul LaPolice’s team defeated Mexico in overtime by a score of 34-26. After a touchdown and the successful two-point conversion on Canada’s first offensive possession in overtime, Guillaume Béland grabbed an interception to seal the outcome and ensure Team Canada’s qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
In the victory, receiver Antony Auclair stood out recording 149 yards on 12 catches with two touchdowns, including the game-winner in overtime.
The men’s team finished the group stage with a 2-1 record, including an impressive 26-6 victory over Austria, the world’s second-ranked team. In their final preliminary match, they lost to Japan, with the result that cost them the top spot in the group and put them on a slightly more difficult path to the final. In the quarter-finals, Canada defeated American Samoa 24-14 before falling to Italy 41-36 in the semi-finals.
The United States, already guaranteed a spot in the upcoming Olympics as the host nation, reached the final, meaning Canada could still secure an Olympic quota spot by winning the bronze medal, a feat they accomplished brilliantly.
The World Championships marked the first opportunity for countries to secure an Olympic spot in flag football. The top two eligible teams of each gender at the World Championships qualified for the upcoming Games. The remaining quota spots per gender will be awarded during the Olympic qualifying series in June 2028, with some matches taking place in Montreal.
