PANAMA CITY - It’s an important step for Canada’s flag football Olympic aspirations.

The Canadian men’s and women’s teams will be competing in the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) Continental championship. The top-five finishers will qualify for the ‘26 IFAF world competition, where the top-three squads will automatically earn berths to the ‘28 Los Angeles Summer Games, where flag football will make its Olympic debut.

“Everyone keeps talking about the Olympics but we’ve got to finish in the top-five to continue,” said Paul LaPolice, the veteran CFL coach who’s coaching the Canadian men’s flag team. “If you get to worlds you get an opportunity to go to the Olympics and so we’re shooting for a top-five so we can assure a spot at worlds next year.”

Canada will open the

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