With flag football preparing to debut in the Olympics, Canada aims to secure spots in the 2028 Los Angeles Games at the ongoing world championships in Germany. The competition will determine two spots each for the men’s and women’s Olympics tournaments, featuring six teams in each. The United States, a dominant flag football team, automatically qualifies as the host, leaving three spots for each gender to be decided through a two-stage qualifier in Montreal in June 2028.

While the world championships are not a direct ticket to the Olympics, winning a spot now would relieve the teams from the pressure of the last-chance qualifier in the following years.

The tournament in Germany involves 16 teams for both men and women, split into groups of four for the initial matches on Thursday and Friday. The top two teams from each group advance to the knockout stage starting on Saturday, leading to the medal games on Sunday to determine the world champions and Olympic qualifiers.

Canada’s women start their group stage matches against Panama, Brazil, and Japan, while the men face Austria, Japan, and gain a default win as Nigeria withdrew due to visa issues.

The Canadian women’s team, ranked fourth globally, has a history of success in previous world championships but aims to secure a spot in the final four this time. The men’s team, ranked 10th, is determined to improve its performance and secure a medal after winning the world title in 2008.

Flag football differs significantly from tackle football, as highlighted in a recent exhibition tournament where NFL stars struggled against flag football specialists. Canada’s national teams feature experienced players like Antony Auclair and Sabrina Gervais, showcasing a blend of talent and strategic prowess suitable for flag football.

Viewers can catch the flag football world championships live on CBC Gem and the CBC Sports website, starting at 2 a.m. ET on Thursday.