Quarterbacks will light up the sky at IFAF World Flag 2026 in Düsseldorf and IFAF focuses on five of the most potent passers who will be among the ones to watch this summer in the women’s tournament.

Diana Flores, Mexico

Quarterback of the world’s top-ranked team, twice champion of The World Games, gold medal winner at the IFAF Americas. There is just one piece of silverware missing from the Diana Flores trophy cabinet: an IFAF world championship.

IFAF World Flag presents an opportunity for the game’s most iconic passer to win that elusive title and claim a qualification spot at LA28. Host Germany, Italy and Slovenia stand in the way in the group stages in Düsseldorf and there will be plenty more rivals lying in wait to try to knock this superstar off her perch.

“I remember watching the Olympic Games with my family when I was very young, imagining myself being there one day, but I didn’t know if that was going to be possible,” she said. “There are no words to describe what it means to me that I could finally realize my dream.”

Sara Parker, Canada

Sara Parker led Canada to a win over Mexico during the group stages of the 2025 Americas having lost to them in the semifinals of The World Games, teeing up a mouthwatering gold medal game. Inclement weather forced a halt to proceedings and denied Parker and Canada their shot at Mexico who were declared the continental champions having led by 12 points when the game cancellation occurred.

Now Parker has an opportunity to help Canada claim a first world championships medal since winning bronze back in 2018 as the two-time world champions (2010, 2014) look to take over at the top.

Parker helped her nation to fifth place at the 2024 IFAF world championships while averaging 39 points per game and is one of two quarterbacks on the Canada roster looking to guide the nation’s fortunes.

Chihiro Iwata, Japan

Japan’s fortunes rest on the arm of Chihiro Iwata who led her nation to the inaugural IFAF Asia-Oceania continental crown in 2023 and an impressive third place at the IFAF World Championships in 2024.

A standout quarterback for the Kansas Wesleyan flag football team, Iwata was at the helm as Japan qualified to compete in Düsseldorf with a third-place victory over American Samoa in the 2025 Asia-Oceania championships.

Brittany Botterill, Great Britain

Great Britain is in the unique position of having two quarterbacks on the roster who have each led their nation to a continental championship.

Jess Allen was at the helm most recently when GB won Euro Flag 2025 and she also helped secure fifth place overall at The World Games on her debut under center. Missing those games having become a mother for the first time, Brittany Botterill returns as Jack Reed’s squad includes two proven quarterbacks on the roster for IFAF World Flag 2026 in Düsseldorf.

Botterill impressed when Great Britain beat Spain in the final of the 2023 IFAF European continental championships in Limerick ad orchestrated the offense the following year at the 2024 IFAF world championships in Finland.

Saskia Stribrny, Austria

How many players will be taking the field at an IFAF world championship for the ninth time?

Saskia Stribrny first performed on that stage in Canada way back in 2008 and since then, Austria has won three bronze medals and one silver, which came in a title game loss to Panama in 2016.

Stribrny and Austria lost by a single point in the bronze medal game two years ago and were silver medalists at Euro Flag 2025, also losing by a solitary point in overtime.