The road to Düsseldorf: Canadian teams on their way to the IFAF Flag Football World Championships
The countdown is now on for our senior national flag football teams ahead of the IFAF World Championships, taking place from August 13 to 16 in Düsseldorf, Germany.
This international tournament represents a pivotal milestone for the program, as it will provide the teams with their first opportunity to secure Canada’s qualification toward the historic debut of flag football at the 2028 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
To secure their ticket to Los Angeles 2028, teams must finish among the top two in both the men’s and women’s tournaments, apart from the United States, who have already qualified as the host nation. The competition format will first require strong performances in the group stage to secure the best possible ranking, before advancing through the knockout rounds and reaching the decisive medal games.
Here are the groups in which our teams will compete:
Senior Women’s National Team
| Group D |
| Canada (1) |
| Japan (2) |
| Panama (3) |
| Brazil (4) |
Ranked 4th in the world, the Canadian women enter the upcoming World Championships as the top seed in Group D. Their tournament will begin against Panama (12th) in the opening 8:00 a.m. slate on Day 1, before facing Brazil (15th) later that afternoon. They will then close out group play against Japan (5th) at 10:30 a.m. on Day 2. (All times Central European Summer Time)
Senior Men’s National Team
| Group B |
| Austria (1) |
| Japan (2) |
| Canada (3) |
| Nigeria (4) |
Ranked 10th in the world, the Canadian men sit third in Group B ahead of the upcoming World Championships. Their tournament will begin against Austria (2nd) in the 11:45 a.m. slate on Day 1. They will then open Day 2 against Japan (7th) in the 8:00 a.m. slate before closing out group play against Nigeria (32nd), winners of the inaugural IFAF African Flag Football Continental Championships, in the 2:15 p.m. slate. (All times Central European Summer Time)
Every two years, the tournament delivers its share of intense matchups and surprises, as national federations continue to accelerate their preparation ahead of flag football’s debut in the Olympic Games. The gap between teams is narrowing, making every game increasingly competitive and unpredictable.
In a highly competitive environment, the Canadian teams arrive determined and ready to face the world’s best nations, aiming to confirm their place among the global elite.
To find out more about the schedule of the 2026 Flag Football World Championships: https://www.americanfootball.sport/2026/05/21/ifaf-world-flag-2026-schedule-announced/
To follow along live, tune in to DAZN, the Official Broadcast Partner.
