Great Britain women lose semi to USA, miss first chance to qualify for Los Angeles 2028

The Great Britain women's flag football team were denied their first opportunity to qualify for the sport's Olympic debut after losing their semi-final to the United States at the World Championships in Dusseldorf, Germany this weekend. They will have another chance to reach Los Angeles 2028 on Sunday.

Flag football will make its Olympic debut at Los Angeles 2028 and two qualification places are available for both the men's and women's tournaments at this weekend's World Championships in Germany. GB advanced from their group as winners and, after facing Panama on Saturday, came from behind to win 26-20 to set up the semi-final with the USA. Victory in the semi-final would have earned an Olympic berth for the winners.

Great Britain led 21-7 in the first half of the semi-final after touchdowns by Grace Conway, Angelica Tait and Emily Kemp, but the defending champions mounted a comeback and won 27-21. Canada beat Mexico 20-6 to reach their first final since 2014.

The tournament schedule now features the USA facing Italy in the final, with Canada taking on Mexico in the bronze-medal game. The outcomes of those matches will determine final placings across the top positions.

GB are third in the world, having won the past two European Championships. Mexico are ranked top and have lost the past two World finals to the USA while beating them in the 2022 and 2025 World Games finals. It will be two years before the other Olympic spots become available.

The GB men's side lost 50-35 to Switzerland in their first ranking game on Saturday and followed that with a 28-20 victory over Austria for their first win of the tournament. The men will play Brazil on Sunday to decide 13th and 14th place.

Since the USA qualify automatically for Los Angeles 2028 as hosts, whoever wins Sunday's bronze-medal game (11:30 BST) in Dusseldorf will secure the other Olympic place on offer at this World Championships.