Flag Football World Championships: Great Britain women lose to Japan in quarter-finals

Great Britain’s hopes of a medal at the Flag Football World Championships were dashed as the women’s team were beaten by Japan on Thursday.

GB started the day with a last-16 match against Switzerland and won 35-26, with Emily Kemp scoring four touchdowns.

GB, ranked fourth in the world after winning last year’s European Championships, then faced Japan in the quarter-finals and suffered a 40-34 defeat.

Kemp again scored four touchdowns but third-ranked Japan claimed the game-winning score with 29 seconds remaining.

GB then faced Canada to help determine fifth to eighth place, and Canada edged a 48-47 shootout, despite GB quarterback Brittany Botterill throwing seven touchdown passes – five to Kemp.

GB’s women now face a crucial game against Italy on Friday. The winners will clinch seventh place – and only the top seven teams qualify for the 2025 World Games in China.

A last-16 defeat for GB’s men on Wednesday left them battling for a spot between ninth and 16th, and they won 34-28 against Spain before beating Japan 36-34.

That means GB, ranked 15th in the world, face eighth-ranked Israel on Friday to determine who finishes ninth.

The tournament in Finland marks the start of the Olympic cycle for flag football, which has been added to the programme for LA 2028.