By: Hannah Vore
Publication Date: June 23, 2026
Men and women’s flag football will officially make its Olympic debut at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
According to OfficialGameRules.com, flag football is a noncontact version of American football, in which players wear flags attached to their waists that other players remove, instead of tackling. The game will take place on a 50-yard field at BMO Stadium, with a five-on-five format.
Since the NFL permitted players to participate in the Olympic flag football games in May 2025, many NFL players have expressed interest in competing.
“Listen, these players are competitors, and they love the big stage. And to win a gold medal, or any medal, is something I think they would all treasure, and they talk about it all the time. So, I absolutely believe we’re gonna have players in the Olympics — active players and probably some retired players,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said on ESPN’s Women’s Sports Now.
According to the NFL, flag football is one of the world’s fastest-growing sports, with participation increasing 50% since 2020 to about 20 million players worldwide.
“It’s no longer a men’s sport. Flag football is for the world,” said Goodell.
Goodell said the sport empowers confidence and gives young women the opportunity to play what is traditionally considered a men’s sport.
Women’s flag football is now offered at more than 250 colleges and universities. The NCAA recently approved flag football for its Emerging Sports for Women program.
The International Federation of American Football (IFAF) 2026 World Championships will be held Aug. 13-16 and will serve as a qualifier for the 2028 Olympics. The top 16 men’s and women’s national teams will participate.
The addition of men’s and women’s flag football to the 2028 Los Angeles Games is expected to further increase participation and expand the sport’s international reach.
