When the third and final IFAF Flag Football Continental Championship of 2023 concluded in Malaysia in October, an unprecedented total of 65 teams from 37 nations had competed in the biggest ever international cycle of competition in the sport’s history.
The success of the continental tournaments was boosted by the news that the flag football format will be part of the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028.
In the Americas women’s tournament in Charlotte, NC, the home team United States fought a classic battle to edge Mexico in the gold medal game, while Canada took the bronze medal and third place on the final play of the game against Panama. Great Britain won the European crown in another close final against Spain in Limerick, and Germany left Ireland with the bronze medal. In the Asia-Oceania tournament, Japan’s consistency throughout the competition earned them the gold over silver medalists Australia, and New Zealand claimed bronze with a 20-13 win over hosts Malaysia.
“This year continues to be a fantastic celebration of flag football around the world as our sport’s community embraces international competition,” said IFAF President Pierre Trochet.
The Americas final in July was a repeat of the gold medal clash at The World Games twelve months earlier and the IFAF World Championships in 2021. Two teams led by iconic quarterbacks – Super Bowl commercial star Diana Flores of Mexico and the United States’ irrepressible veteran passer Vanita Krouch – met in a finale worthy of any competition.
Crammed into a packed championship field at the United States Performance Center in Charlotte, NC, partisan supporters of both nations dueled with chants and songs to spur on the great rivals, who responded with a classic back and forth contest on the field.
Starring in her home state, US wide receiver Madison Fulford reeled in four touchdown catches from quarterback Krouch but in the end it came down to an interception inside the final minute from Amber Clark that settled the contest 26-21.
“It’s especially rewarding but we’ve prepared for this,” said Fulford. “It feels really good to have this win. Vanita made really good decisions with really good reads and we came together as a team and our defense really stepped up.”
Mexico quarterback Diana Flores, who was mobbed by fans and players from the junior teams participating at the wider flag football event, said: “We were expecting this kind of game. We knew it was going to be a good game. The US did a great job today so congrats to them. Now we are focused and we’re looking forward. I’m proud of my team.”
A month later, Ireland played host to the European continental tournament as Great Britain triumphed, winning gold in a nail-biting 26-19 victory over reigning champions Spain at the University of Limerick.
“A lot of years, a lot of hard work, a lot of years of waiting has just paid off,” said MVP quarterback Brittany Botterill, who threw four touchdowns in the win. “It was a complete team effort from offense to defense. We have playmakers and when in doubt you throw it up and one of them is going to go up and get it.”
In a close encounter, Spain scored to level the score at 19-19 late in the game, but Great Britain managed the clock inside the final two minutes and secured victory. Amy Wells reeled in a crucial fourth down catch then with 14 seconds to play Phoebe Schecter caught the winning touchdown and the point after.
Japan won the first-ever IFAF Asia-Oceania Flag Football continental crown in a high-scoring women’s final as they defeated Australia 47-29 at the EV Arena Shah Alam in Malaysia.
Led by teenage quarterback and tournament MVP Chihiro Iwata, Japan held a 27-point lead at the two-minute warning and although Australia mounted a late comeback with two touchdowns and a safety, the competition’s sole unbeaten team had the final say with a seventh touchdown.
The next challenge for flag football’s elite women’s players is the 2024 IFAF Flag Football World Championships to be played in Lahti, Finland.
Photo: @UmarShafiz
