There are no guarantees that IFAF world number one Mexico and continental rival Canada will meet in Düsseldorf, but if both navigate out of their respective groups, they could be on a collision course during the knockout stages. If that happens IFAF World Flag 2026 will serve up one of the most intriguing and anticipated games of the tournament.

Cast your mind back to the IFAF Americas gold medal game on Sunday, September 14, at the Estadio Virgilio Tejeira Andrión in Panama. Canada trails Mexico by 12 points having conceded touchdowns to Mexico’s Andrea Martinez and Alondra Sanchez. The Canadians are on the cusp of halving the deficit. An incomplete pass falls agonizingly short then as quarterback Sara Parker is about to take another shot at the end zone, lightning and torrential rain intervene.

The game is abandoned and cannot restart due to the storm that sweeps in. IFAF rules 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 is ahead by 12 points. Mexico is declared the Americas champion.

“We never got to finish the final, so is there unfinished business? Absolutely!” says Canada head coach Rachel Lessard. “We were at the goal line trailing by 12, but the day before we had scored, I think it was 20 something points in one half against Mexico.

“Our football can switch very fast. It's one interception and it can flip. So, we're always wondering if we scratch our silver medal, if there might not be a piece of gold underneath, you know. So yes, we are very excited. We want to face them, of course, and do our best.”

Almost forgotten in the aftermath as Mexico claimed the Americas title and took over at the summit of the IFAF World Rankings was that Canada had inflicted the only defeat Mexico suffered in 2025 in the group stages.

A month earlier in Chengdu, China, Mexico had defended its crown at The World Games and on the way to a famous finale win over the United States, had beaten Canada 25-13 in the semifinals. In Panama, however, Canada was ready to exact revenge and in the final game of the group stages, edged Mexico 26-25, that single point giving them the belief that they could upset the favorites if they were to meet in the final.

“We are constantly trying to prove that we belong in the top three and are fighting really hard to win that gold medal,” said quarterback Parker at the time. “I’m super proud of us and we deserve this. We made sure that we are ready for any situation and I think that really showed.”

As it happened, fate, or rather the weather, had other ideas and Canada was cruelly denied a chance to mount a comeback and claim continental glory. Perhaps their shot at redemption will come in Düsseldorf this summer.