Flag football is officially joining the Olympic lineup for the 2028 Games in Los Angeles, a move championed by the International Federation of American Football and supported by the NFL. The Games will feature both men’s and women’s competitions.
It’s one example of the rapid growth of the sport.
Currently, flag football is played by an estimated 20 million people across more than 100 countries. In the United States alone, approximately 2.4 million children under 17 participate in organized flag football.
Flag football has also become the fastest-growing high school sport in the U.S. because of its non-contact, fast-paced format, making it a safer alternative to traditional tackle football.
“The big runs, the big plays, the interceptions, the long passes, the Hail Marys — all of that still exists,” said NBC Sports reporter Trenni Casey on Boston Public Radio on Tuesday.
She added that the NFL is heavily investing in flag football, saying the league seems to know “it’s coming down the pike.”
In May, the NFL announced it hired Stephanie Kwok for the newly created position of vice president, head of flag football.
Casey said that although other countries may not have the same level of participation in the sport, there is optimism that high-profile players will participate in the 2028 Olympics.
USA Football will set up the U.S. national team, drawing players from both the NFL and other leagues as they prepare for 2028.
