Mexico crowned 2025 IFAF Americas Flag Football Women’s Continental champions
Mexico is the 2025 IFAF Americas Flag Football women’s continental champion having been declared the winner due to holding a 12-0 lead over Canada when adverse weather forced the cancellation of the gold medal game during the first half.
IFAF rules regarding awarded games state that: If abandoned in the first half the game should be considered a tie unless one team is ahead by the score of two or more touchdowns (12 points or more). In this case the team ahead will be declared winners.
Mexico led 12-0 through touchdowns from Andrea Martinez and Alondra Sanchez when lightning and torrential rain at the Estadio Virgilio Tejeira Andrión in Panama began late in the first half.
IFAF and the local organising committee took the decision to ensure player safety, which is IFAF’s top priority. IFAF understands and shares the disappointment of players and fans and thanks them for their contribution to what has been a superb showcase of flag football in Panama.
The United States won the bronze medal, though Panama pushed them all the way for third place in the women’s tournament. With the game tied at 18-18 late on, Vanita Krouch threw the decisive score to Izzy Geraci who also tagged on the two-point conversion.
Fifth place came with the prize of the Americas’ final berth at the 2026 IFAF World Championships in Dusseldorf next summer and Brazil cruised past Guatemala 49-6 to lock in the coveted place.
“I’m really happy and proud and now we are going to Germany!” said Jennifer Leitão, who scored on both sides of the ball in the win with a touchdown and an interception.
IFAF NFL Flag Football Ambassador Gabi Bankhardt added:
“It is amazing because we are going through changes and his was a challenging tournament for us. We’re changing our culture with different ways of playing with much more aggression on defense.
“There is a lot of pressure now for us to get results because flag football will be at the Olympics. We’re not happy to be in fifth place because we wanted more, but we are happy to be going to Germany.”
Guatemala finished sixth overall while Colombia emerged from a three-nation round robin placement series of games to finish seventh ahead of Argentina in eighth place and Jamaica in ninth. Argentina’s women’s team entered IFAF competition for the first time, while Jamaica became the first-ever Caribbean nation to compete on the continental stage.
Final Standings:
- Mexico
- Canada
- USA
- Panama
- Brazil
- Guatemala
- Colombia
- Argentina
- Jamaica
