There are rivalries aplenty in the Americas in the women’s world of international flag football.

The United States and Mexico have contested the past two IFAF World Championships and The World Games. At least one of the dominant forces of USA, Mexico, Canada and Panama have been involved all but two of 11 world title gold medal game since the inaugural competition in 2002. The United States and Mexico each boast six podium finishes, Canada four and Panama two, while each of that quartet has won an IFAF Flag Football World Championship.

So where does that leave Brazil?

The challenge facing the fifth IFAF World Flag 2026 qualifier from the Americas is to break into that continental women’s top four. While never a medal winner, Brazil played for bronze in Israel in 2021, losing 26-13 to Austria. That finish earned a place at The World Games four years ago. Eventual winners Mexico, Japan and Italy proved too strong in the group stages and a quarterfinals exit came at the hands of USA.

Heading into IFAF World Flag 2026, Brazil has Panama in their sights in what is shaping up to be another notable rivalry among nations from the Americas. The pair will meet in Düsseldorf in Group D.

“Panama is a team that we are always looking for, and we want to be like them,” said receiver Gabi Bankhardt. “I love to play against USA because they are one of the best in the world, and we always seem to play them and we can learn a lot, but it is Panama we’re excited about playing. We feel they are our rivals in this group.”

Brazil’s wins in the past three IFAF competitions have come against Chile, Colombia, Finland, Guatemala, Israel, and Poland, who all sit below them in the IFAF World Rankings. So, it is time to create an upset in Düsseldorf and that opportunity is there against Panama, and two other teams Canada and Japan.

“There is a lot of pressure now for us to get results because flag football will be at the Olympics,” added Bankhardt. “We were not happy to be in fifth place (in the Americas) because we wanted more, but we are happy to be going to Germany.”

And once there, Brazil aims to do much more than just make up the numbers.