IFAF World Flag 2026: Canada dethrones USA to win women’s world title, Mexico punches LA28 ticket

The women’s competition at the IFAF World Flag Football Championships ended with Canada on top of the world and Mexico holding a ticket to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. Canada battled back after falling behind early to defeat the United States 27-20 in the championship game, while Mexico survived a furious challenge from Great Britain to win the bronze medal 20-19 and secure direct qualification for LA28.

Canada wins the World Championship

Team USA quarterback found receiver Maci Joncich open for a long touchdown on the first play of the game, and then hit her for the conversion, which might have rattled some teams. Not the Canadians though. Team Canada’s veteran signal caller Sara Parker drove her team steadily down the field and then connected with Frédérique Morneau for the score. The conversion failed, so Team USA maintained the lead 7-6. On the next U.S. drive Higa dropped a pass into Ashlea Klam’s hands for the touchdown, and found her again for the conversion to expand Team USA’s lead to 14-7 with 11:20 left in the half. Each team traded an empty possession, but then with 17 seconds, Parker linked up with Caroline Moquin-Joubert to draw within 2 points. Team Canada’s coach Rachel Lessard decided to go for 2 to tie the game, and her athletes came through. The Parker – Moquin-Joubert pair struck again, and the game was 14-14 at the half.

Canada takes control after halftime

Team Canada went ahead, for good, when Parker hit Caroline Moquin-Joubert for the score. The conversion failed, so Canada led by 6, 20-14. On the next USA drive, a penalty gave them a first down in Canadian territory, but Higa’s pass to Isabella Geraci from the 10-yard line sailed just too high, and Canada took over on downs. Canada took over and Morneau collected another touchdown pass, and then Alexane Fournier caught the conversion to expand Canada’s lead to 27-14.

Higa then located Madison Fulford with 2:25 left in the game, to narrow the score to 27-20, after the conversion failed. Team USA’s defense stopped Team Canada after four plays, but got the ball back with only 32 seconds left to play.

USA falls just short

(Florian Wiegand/AP Content Services for International Federation of American Football)

Higa connected with Madison Fulford, Kennedy Foster, and Klam to reach the 4-yard line with 3 seconds left. Higa had Fulford open, but the ball wailed just behind the sliding receiver, and Canada had won.

After the game, Parker said that she was feeling “Ecstatic. I think it’s hard to describe how it feels to be a world champion. It’s just an unbelievable feeling. I’m so happy. This is the reward we deserve…If you think you are the best in the world, you are the best in the world.”

Fulford was disappointed, but knew they could have won had the breaks gone differently. “I’m a little frustrated. I think that game was ours. It hurts, but it just makes us better. It’s a good group, and I think we will be back next year.”

Mexico earns their LA 28 ticket

The bronze medal game also came down to the last minute, as Mexico edged Great Britain 20-19. Mexico jumped out to an early lead when Tania Rincon threw the first touchdown to Diana Flores. Andy Martinez hauled in the conversion from Rincon to give Mexico a 7-point lead.

(Florian Wiegand/AP Content Services for International Federation of American Football)

Team Great Britain, with backup Jessica Allen in for an injured Brittany Botterill, struggled early to find their rhythm. After Victoria Chavez intercepted Emily Kemp, Rincon found Martinez open on the Great Britain 17-yard line, and the receiver avoided the flag pull, and scored Mexico’s second touchdown. The conversion failed, but Mexico led 13-0.

Great Britain responds before halftime

Allen began to get a feel for the game, and with two minutes left, she hit Angelica Tait for six. The conversion failed, so the score was 13-6 Mexico. The Mexicans were not done scoring in the half though, and with 1:17 left Rincon connected with Yaritza Morales for both the touchdown, and the conversion to give Team Mexico a 20-6 halftime lead.