Fresh off securing qualification for flag football’s official debut at the LA28 Olympic Games, Canadian national team stars Sara Parker and Guillaume Béland expressed immense optimism for the sport’s rapid growth during a visit to CBC Sports headquarters on Monday.
The Canadian senior women’s team clinched their fourth world title—and first since 2014—with a thrilling 27-20 victory over the United States at the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) competition in Düsseldorf, Germany. Meanwhile, the senior men’s squad earned an Olympic berth by securing a bronze medal against Mexico.
Gold for Women, MVP Honors for Parker
Quarterback Sara Parker, 26, proved instrumental throughout the tournament, throwing 23 touchdown passes and earning Most Valuable Player honors. Her trajectory mirrors the expansion of flag football across Canada, having previously launched grass-roots programs in high school, Champlain College Saint Lambert, and Concordia University.
“Now that the path is clear, and we also have the recognition of the Olympics, [the sport] is going to continue to grow,” Parker told CBC Sports. “It’s going to allow kids to dream about being Olympians… the dream is real.”
Heroics and Transition on the Men’s Side
Cornerback Guillaume Béland provided the critical play for the Canadian men’s squad, making a game-ending interception in overtime to seal a 34-26 bronze-medal victory over Mexico. The win guaranteed the men’s team their ticket to Los Angeles alongside the women.
Béland, 29, played five seasons of tackle football at McGill University before making the transition to flag football in 2025. He noted that while footwork and coverage skills carried over well, adjusting to mechanics like “de-flagging” required adaptation.
Both players are returning to domestic league play before rejoining national team training camps later this year as Football Canada prepares for the upcoming 2028 Summer Olympic Games.
