In Canada we get confused as our English is a mixture of American and British English
I searched the internet and found this interesting linguistic document
http://teleensm.ummto.dz/mod/resource/view.php?id=6933&redirect=1
Here is a quote from that document:
Linguistic change over space. May be the best illustration would be the distinction between the two varieties of English known as British English (BE) and American English (AM).
Pronunciation: either (BE) /aiδə/; (AM) /i:δə/
Grammar: (BE) England are the champion; (AM) England is the champion
Vocabulary: (BE) the lorry driver; (AM) the truck driver
The bolding is mine to illustrate my point. In both instances the word "champion" is singular. The British English has a plural verb. The American English has a singular verb.
Interesting... I have tried to help a student in France once with his English papers for English linguistic conferences. I gave up after a while as the English used in Linguistics seemed bizarre to me after a while.
Anyway, champion aside it appears to depend on which version of English you are using (BE or AE) as to which sentence you would use.