Veteran Sabrina Gervais leads Canada into world championship with Olympic bid on the line

She's a mom, health-care professional and longtime flag football player. Sabrina Gervais now hopes to add Olympian to her life resume.

The veteran defensive back leads Canada's national women's team into the 2026 world championship. Not only will the Canadians chase a gold medal but also a berth into the 2028 Los Angeles Games, where flag football makes its Olympic debut.

"It would be realizing a dream I would've never dreamt before," Gervais said. "I never thought about (Olympics), but now that I'm still in the loop, I think the chances are good if I can stay healthy and continue to be a leader for my team.

The International Federation of American Football (IFAF) world championship begins Thursday in Düsseldorf, Germany. Canada opens against Panama and Brazil before facing Japan on Friday.

Sara Parker, Marc-Antoine Dequoy highlight Canada's flag football rosters for world championships

Quarterback Sara Parker looking to add Olympian to impressive flag football resume

The top-two finishers will secure Olympic berths. If the United States reaches the gold-medal game, then the top-three teams will advance, as the Americans already have a spot in Los Angeles as host.

The world championship isn't the last Olympic qualifying event. But failing to do so in Germany would mean participating in next year's IFAF continental championship and then the final Olympic qualifier series in 2028.

Canada is a definite gold-medal threat in Germany. It qualified for the world championship by reaching the final of last year's IFAF Americas Continental championship in Panama, losing 12-0 to Mexico in a contest halted in the first half by severe weather.

Gervais, 36, of Maskinonge, Que., is hopeful Canada not only faces Mexico in Germany but can play an entire game this time.

"Of course, we've been working on improving to play them," she said. "Hopefully we'll see each other (but) we're ready.

Nigeria to miss flag football Olympic qualifying world championships over visa issue

Canada also won a bronze medal at the 2025 World Games in China, its first-ever international women's flag football hardware. So the Canadians won't have the element of surprise in Germany.

"I feel like people are starting to know us," Gervais said. "We beat the U.S. (34-33 at USA Football Summer Series on June 19), and I think people are starting to talk about us more.