Canadian women embrace pressure ahead of flag football world championship

A new U SPORTS pilot will bring women’s flag football next year, sparking excitement among University of Regina athletes. Jacob Carr has more.

An Olympic berth is available, but neither head coach Rachel Lessard nor quarterback Sara Parker see it as the biggest prize for Canada at the world women’s flag football championship.

Canada will compete at the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) world championship Aug. 13-16 in Duesseldorf, Germany. The top-two teams will qualify for the 2028 Games in Los Angeles, where flag football will make its Olympic debut.

If the United States reaches the final, the top-three will advance as the Americans already have an Olympic spot as host.

But Canada will play with a gold medal in mind. The Canadians qualified for the world event by reaching last year’s IFAF Americas Continental championship in Panama, dropping a 12-0 decision to Mexico in a contest halted in the first half due to severe weather.

“I feel very confident with where we’re at right now compared to last year,” Lessard said. “I feel like we’re more polished.

“Our roster hasn’t been finalized yet but we have so much depth and so many players who can do many different things. I think aiming for gold is something we can achieve.”

Earlier this month, Canada defeated the U.S. 34-33 in Los Angeles. Parker finished 19-of-25 passing for 164 yards and three touchdowns.

“We used mostly the same plays we did last summer but executed them at a higher level without adding anything funky or different to our offence,” Parker said. “I think that shows we’ve progressed immensely from last summer.

“Honesty, I’d hate to be the other teams (at world event) because we’re coming in hot and with a silver medal I feel we got in a situation we didn’t deserve. I think we’re really fired up, I think momentum is on our side and we’re going to make things happen.”

Canada will continue its world championship preparation next weekend in China with workouts and exhibition games versus the Chinese and Australia.

The world championship isn’t the last Olympic qualifying event. But failing to do so in Germany would mean participating in the ’27 IFAF continental championship and then the final Olympic qualifier series in 2028.

“That (Olympic berth in Germany) is the way we’d like it to go,” Lessard said. “The shortest road possible, that’s what we’re aiming for and preparing for.”

The second-place finish in Panama followed a historic bronze medal for Canada at the ’25 World Games in Chengdu, China. The squad earned its first-ever international hardware in women’s flag football with a 38-20 victory over Austria.

“I think a big part that contributed to our game against the U.S. was the team culture we’ve built,” said Parker, a member of the ’25 squad. “The energy, momentum, team spirit and unity we had really made a difference.

“If we keep building on that, stay united, keep making each other better and pushing ourselves, we’re definitely going to show up fired up. In Germany, I don’t think we’ll be stoppable.”

Flag football is huge in Quebec with numerous men’s and women’s leagues. It has also been played at universities since 2021.

Starting in 2027, women’s flag football will be a pilot sport in U Sports.

“I see the potential of growing the pool of athletes that will create the pathway to the national team,” said Lessard. “This will give the means and push for universities to help players that want to play at that level and, of course, give us credibility with other sports.”

Parker, who played at Concordia, feels flag football coaching will also benefit.

“I know Rachel isn’t going to brag but I think we also have many high-quality coaches in Quebec,” Parker said. “Making (flag football) a national sport will also give the opportunity for coaches to better equip themselves and also help athletes develop and improve and give them a better shot at making the national team.”

Roughly six weeks out from the world championship, Parker feels it’s important Canada not look too far ahead and remain focused on immediate tasks.

“We don’t know yet who’ll make up the team for Germany but I feel everyone was made for this,” Parker said. “From a quarterback’s standpoint, I’d say it’s really important to stay in the moment and regardless of the situation know you’ve practised for it.

“Don’t think too much about the outcome, just the situation you’re in. I feel that helps me kind of relieve pressure in a game, just focus on executing what’s in front of me as best I can.”

And never fear pressure.

“During our game with the U.S., the crowd wasn’t really as friendly as we would’ve liked and in Panama, the crowd was for Mexico and booed us,” Lessard said. “But we want those moments.

“We know it’s a privilege to feel that pressure and we’ve changed our philosophy, now we embrace it. We ask ourselves, ‘Is there anywhere you’d rather be? No, so enjoy the moment and play ball.’”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 26, 2026.

Dan Ralph, The Canadian Press