LIVESTREAM: Playoffs/Finals 2018 IFAF Flag Football World Championship, August 12, 8a US Central time (3p CET, 9a ET)

AFI | 2018 IFAF Flag Football World Championship | 08/12/2018

Graphic: Igor Lazarevic

The 2018 IFAF Flag Football World Championship tournament winds up today, Sunday, August 12 at Costa Del Este Sports Center in Panama City, Panama, with the playoff rounds and championship final in both the men’s and women’s divisions on the schedule.

All the games are being played on three different fields, Under Armour Field, IHOP Field and Subway Field.

Men’s Bracket (9:15 AM start)

Only two teams were unbeaten on the men’s side, the United States and Mexico. The defending champion Team USA (5-0) opens the quarterfinal round facing Israel (2-3) while on the other side of the bracket, Mexico (5-0) takes on Japan (1-4). Denmark and Team Panama will clash with the winner to face the winner of the USA-Israel game. Team Canada (3-2) and Team Austria (3-2) square off in the final quarterfinal matchup.

While Team USA and Mexico enter the playoff round unbeaten, they did not dominate. The Mexicans barely got by Canada defeating them 51-49 and then scraped by Denmark 48-47. The United States had trouble against Denmark but finally prevailed 35-34 and Panama gave them problems although they ultimately won 35-25.

Women’s Bracket (8 AM Start)

The defending champions, Team Panama (5-0) open their quarterfinal round facing Denmark on one side of the bracket while the United States (4-0) takes on Team Japan (1-4). Team Mexico (3-1) and Brazil (3-2) play to face the winner of the Panama-Denmark game while Team Canada (4-1) will face the Austrians (2-2).

Panama and Team USA are the favorites to reach the gold medal final. Both teams breezed through the group stage of the tournament with relative ease. The closest any team came to Panama was Team Canada who the Panamanians defeated 31-20. For the United States, the Mexicans provided the most resistance ultimately losing to Team USA 40-21.