Flag football gold! 5 Tec athletes triumph with Mexico at World Games

Undefeated, the Mexico Women’s Flag Football Team have won the gold medal at the 2025 World Games held in Chengdu, China, defeating the United States 26-21. 

The Mexican team participating in the competition included Diana Flores, Andrea Martínez, Ángela Funes, and Victoria Chávez, players from Borregos Santa Fe; Andrea Petrone and Fernando Nahara, coaches from the same team; and Ana Aguayo, a graduate from the Tec’s Guadalajara campus. 

“I’m so happy and proud of the team, our families, and all the people who support us from Mexico. We played at our best today, and I feel blessed to be a part of this. Mexico, we’re gold! Think gold and long live Mexico!” says Diana Flores. 

The team became the first to win gold in two editions of the games, having also achieved this title in Birmingham in 2022. 

This victory marks the end of their participation in the World Games before the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, where flag football will debut as an Olympic sport. 

The Mexico Women’s Flag Football Team won the gold medal by defeating the United States in the final of the 2025 World Games with a score of 26-21. 

This game began as cornerback Allison Salazar intercepted a pass by the U.S. quarterback. However, the Americans were the first to score, taking a 7-0 lead. 

Two touchdown passes from Diana Flores to her receiver, Tania Rincón, and another interception by Allison Salazar allowed the Mexican team to reach halftime with a 14-7 lead. 

In the second half, Flores suffered an interception that was returned to the end zone, tying the score at 14-14. Mexico’s quarterback responded with a touchdown pass to receiver Mónica Rangel to regain the lead 20-14. 

The United States took a 21-20 lead with 28 seconds remaining in the game. Mexico had one last offensive series to aim for victory. 

In the final play, with three seconds left on the clock, Diana Flores connected with her receiver, Victoria Chávez, for a touchdown pass that earned the Mexican team the gold medal. 

Since 2021, Mexico and the United States have faced each other in four finals for the women’s flag football title in two tournaments: the World Games and the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) World Flag Football Championship. 

The United States won the 2021 and 2024 World Flag Football Championships, while Mexico won the 2022 and now the 2025 World Games. 

In the semifinal, the Mexican team defeated Canada 25-13. 

The Canadians led 7-6 for most of the first half, until Elizabeth Bourde intercepted the ball and returned it to the French team. 

On the next offensive play, Diana Flores connected with her receiver, Andrea Martínez, for the touchdown that gave them a 13-7 lead before halftime. 

Canada managed to tie the game 13-13 at the start of the second half, but the game was sealed by two touchdown passes from Diana Flores and Tania Rincón, connecting with Ana Aguayo and Silvia Contreras, respectively. 

During the quarterfinals, the national team defeated China 40-0. 

The Mexican players went into halftime with a 20-0 lead. In the second half, they seized victory by adding 20 more points to the scoreboard. 

Diana Flores finished the game with one pass and one touchdown reception. Victoria Chávez made an interception at the end of the game. 

Chávez herself, along with Andrea Petrone and Ángela Funes, participated more actively in defense, which allowed them to complete the first match of the tournament without conceding a single point. 

In the group stage, Mexico finished undefeated, winning 41-24 against Japan, 46-7 against Italy, and 34-13 against the United Kingdom. 

DON’T GO WITHOUT READING: