08/16/26 12:36:00
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08/16 12:34 CDT US men and Canada women win flag football world titles as spots
earned for the Los Angeles Olympics
US men and Canada women win flag football world titles as spots earned for the
Los Angeles Olympics
DSSELDORF, Germany (AP) --- The United States successfully defended the men's
title at the flag football world championships on Sunday but lost the women's
title to Canada, while Mexico's women and Canada's men earned qualification
spots for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
The U.S. men beat Italy 46-26 to secure a sixth straight title and the women
missed out on a fourth straight title after losing 27-20 to Canada.
"Gold is the only standard," said men's quarterback Nico Casares, who threw two
touchdown passes. "That's our motto. That's what we play by, that's what we
live by."
The U.S. women started strongly but it was tied 14-14 at the break after
Caroline Moquin-Joubert caught quarterback Sara Parker's pass at the end of the
first half. Parker set up Frederique Morneau at the start of the second half as
Canada took control.
The U.S. had a fourth down, yards from the line, with three seconds left, but
could not make the final play count. It was Canada's third title and first
since beating the U.S. in the 2014 final.
"I feel so happy, I can't believe it," Parker said after hugging her mother.
"Literally the best day ever."
The International Federation of American Football ran the championship
tournament, which doubled up as a qualifier, in the German city of Dsseldorf.
The top two men's and top two women's teams earned a spot at the 2028 Games,
along with the U.S. men's and women's teams because they already qualified as
hosts.
Sunday's two other finalists --- the Italian men and Canadian women --- earned
an Olympic spot by reaching the final against the U.S. teams, meaning that the
bronze-medal games decided who joined them.
Mexico women cried with joy after a 20-19 win over Great Britain --- which
rallied from 20-6 down --- for the women's bronze and an Olympic spot.
But Mexico's men lost 34-26 in overtime to Canada, which claimed an Olympic
spot.
Rules of the game
Flag football was among five sports given Olympic status for the 2028 Games
back in 2023, with the game played five-on-five in two 20-minute halves, no
tackling and an emphasis on speed and elusiveness.
The NFL has said it plans to launch women's and men's professional flag
football ahead of the Olympics. -__
See AP's full NFL coverage here
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