LOS ANGELES—Flag football is moving closer to its Olympic debut at the 2028 Los Angeles Games, with organizers and governing bodies continuing preparations for the sport's first appearance on the Summer Games program as athletes, national federations and professional players position themselves for qualification.
The International Olympic Committee approved flag football for the Los Angeles 2028 sports program in 2023, marking the first time an American football discipline will be contested at the Olympic Games. The non-contact format will feature separate men's and women's tournaments under the governance of the International Federation of American Football (IFAF).
Preparations have accelerated since NFL club owners voted in May 2025 to permit league players to pursue participation in the Olympic competition, subject to rules agreed with the NFL Players Association, IFAF and Olympic authorities. The resolution allows eligible NFL players to enter national team selection and qualification pathways while establishing safeguards covering player health, safety and scheduling.
LA28 organizers have scheduled the flag football competition for the opening week of the Games, with men's and women's medal contests planned for July 21 and July 22, 2028. Organizers have said the timetable is intended to maximize global exposure while limiting conflicts with the NFL's preseason calendar.
IFAF President Pierre Trochet has described the Olympic debut as a milestone for the sport's international development, while LA28 Chairperson Casey Wasserman has said the inclusion of NFL players would further elevate the competition. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has said representing one's country at the Olympics is "an incredible honor" and welcomed the opportunity for league players to compete on the international stage.
According to IFAF, flag football is played in more than 100 countries and has an estimated 20 million participants worldwide. The federation says the fast-paced, non-contact format has experienced rapid international growth, particularly among women and youth players, supporting its inclusion in the Olympic program.
Qualification for the inaugural Olympic tournaments is under way through the system approved by the IOC and IFAF. The United States receives automatic entry as host nation, while the remaining places will be determined through world championship and continental qualification events leading into the Los Angeles Games.
The next major milestone will come through IFAF's qualifying competitions, which will determine the nations joining the United States in the men's and women's Olympic tournaments before flag football makes its historic debut at Los Angeles 2028.
