EAGAN, MN — May 20, 2025 — NFL clubs voted today at the Spring League Meeting in Eagan, Minnesota to permit the participation of NFL players in flag football at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles (LA28).

The approved resolution authorizes the league to work with the NFL Players Association, the International Federation of American Football (IFAF), and the relevant Olympic authorities to implement rules governing the participation of NFL players in flag football, which makes its Olympic debut in 2028.

"It's an incredible honor for any athlete to represent their country in the Olympics, which is the pinnacle of global sport," said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. "I know first-hand that the inclusion of flag football in the Olympics has sparked a tremendous amount of excitement among NFL players interested in the chance to compete for their country on the world stage. We are thrilled that they will now have that chance."

Olympic rosters will be selected by each countries' National Olympic Committees based on the proposal by the respective National Federations.

"I warmly welcome the outcome of this vote, which promises to add another dimension to what is already shaping up to be a game-changing debut for flag football at the Olympic Games," said IFAF President Pierre Trochet. "The National Football League is home to the biggest stars in American football, who come from more and more countries, and now have the opportunity to shine on the greatest stage in world sport, showcasing everything that makes flag football a genuine worldwide phenomenon. IFAF's 75 national federations join me in thanking our NFL partners for this further demonstration of their commitment to flag football in the Olympic movement. We will work together to ensure our sport contributes a defining element of LA28's success."

The Olympic flag football competition will consist of six men's teams and six women's teams composed of 10 players per team, with the game itself a five-on-five format.

As per the terms agreed to today, NFL player participation with their countries' national flag football teams will begin with a tryout or qualification process in advance of the Olympic competition.

"Players have expressed to us a great desire for the honor of competing in the Olympics, and we're excited that our members will be able to represent their country on the highest international stage," said NFL Players Association Executive Director Lloyd Howell, Jr. "We look forward to working with the league, IFAF, and Olympic authorities on the terms of their participation to ensure players who compete will do so with protections to their health, safety, and job."

Flag football is governed internationally by the IOC-recognized International Federation of American Football, which has 75 national member federations spanning every continent. A record 31 nations participated in the most recent IFAF Flag Football World Championships, mirroring the sport's explosive grassroots growth, with 20 million players around the world.

"There is no question that the 2028 Flag Football tournament at the LA28 Games will be one of the most exciting competitions in Olympic history, and the inclusion of NFL players will bring it to new heights," said LA28 Chairperson and President Casey Wasserman. "This milestone would not have been possible without the support of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, the NFL Players Association, its club owners and most importantly, the athletes, who we'll look forward to watching on the field in 2028."

League Captures Excitement Around LA28, Which Will Feature Men's and Women's Flag Football

NEW YORK — AUG. 5, 2024 — As Paris 2024 continues, the spotlight after the Closing Ceremony will quickly shift to the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028 (LA28) and the excitement around the official inclusion of men's and women's flag football on the LA28 sports program.

To celebrate this moment, the NFL, in partnership with the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) and LA28, launched an epic handover spot "Light It Up," featuring Philadelphia Eagles quarterback and Global Flag Football Ambassador Jalen Hurts. The video, reminiscent of the iconic archer lighting the Olympic torch with a flaming arrow at the Olympic Games Barcelona 1992 Games, shows Hurts igniting the LA Coliseum torch with a flaming football, signaling flag as an official sport at LA28.

"The Olympic handover from Paris to Los Angeles is an amazing opportunity to have our global flag ambassador Jalen Hurts kickstart the excitement around the inclusion of men's and women's flag football in the 2028 program," said Peter O'Reilly, executive vice president of club business, international and league events. "As one of the fastest growing sports globally, flag football has incredible momentum, and LA28 will spotlight the sport at the highest level and on the world's biggest stage."

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced in October 2023 that flag football would be included on the LA28 Olympic sports program. Its inclusion, led by efforts of the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) and supported by the NFL, showcases an aspirational new pathway to elite play and the incredible development of the sport globally.

"As we celebrate the successes of Paris 2024 and the ball is thrown to LA28, we have no doubt flag football is going to light up the Games when it makes its debut in four years' time," said IFAF President, Pierre Trochet. "Young, fast, creative and played by outstanding athletes, including our global flag football ambassador Jalen Hurts, the format is the perfect fit for the Games of a new generation. Together with our partners the NFL, we share a commitment to driving the international development of American football forward and believe that flag's inclusion in Los Angeles will further accelerate the extraordinary participation growth we are seeing worldwide."

In addition to flag football's debut at the Olympic Games in four years, the NFL and IFAF are spotlighting the football format throughout this summer. First, the world's premiere youth flag football tournament, the NFL Flag Championships, saw 2,800 players from around the world compete in Hall of Fame Village in Canton, Ohio. Last week, the NFL also announced the 2025 Pro Bowl Games will return to Orlando, Fl., where the league's top players will compete in on-field and off-field skills competitions and in an action-packed flag football game at Camping World Stadium. Later this month, elite flag football talent representing 32 nations across five continents will converge on the biggest-ever IFAF World Flag Football Championships in Lahti, Finland.

Played by an estimated 20 million people in more than 100 countries across 6 continents, flag football is a short, fast, non-contact and gender-equal format. It is the most inclusive and accessible format of football, played by people of all ages and genders, with women and girls driving some of the sport's fastest growth.

To learn more about NFL Flag or find a league near you to get involved in the movement, visit www.nflflag.com.

IFAF, the NFL and USA Football -- the national governing body of American football in the United States -- have joined forces to welcome today's vote of the IOC Session in Mumbai, India, which will see American football feature on the official program of the Olympic Games for the first time in history when flag football makes its debut appearance in Los Angeles 2028.

Today's decision follows prior recommendations by the IOC Executive Board, IOC Olympic Program Commission and Los Angeles 2028 Organizing Committee and concludes a two-year process of evaluation.

It comes after IFAF and the NFL formed Vision28 -- a unique joint venture and partnership model -- which places flag football at the heart of shared sport development goals globally.

Flag football -- a short, fast, non-contact and gender-equal format, renowned as the most accessible and inclusive version of American football -- is spearheading exceptional worldwide participation growth in American football, especially among women and girls.

An estimated 20 million in more than 100 countries currently play the discipline, which is growing in tandem with the exploding international popularity of the NFL, as America's favorite spectator sport continues to build on a global fanbase of 340 million.

This year will see 65 national representative teams participate in IFAF continental flag football competition, building towards the biggest-ever IFAF World Flag Football Championships to be held in Lahti, Finland in August 2024.

Pierre Trochet, President of the International Federation of American Football, said:

"This is a huge moment for our sport and our global American football community. We are grateful to everyone who has played a part in what has been a truly collective journey - and a journey that will now continue in partnership with LA28, whom we thank for their vision and leadership.

"We are convinced that flag football will offer an exciting new dimension to the Games -- uniting them, for the first time in history, with America's number one sport in its youngest, most accessible and inclusive format, which is already spearheading extraordinary growth, particularly among youth audiences, women and girls and in new countries worldwide. We have no doubt that inclusion in the Olympic Games will further accelerate this dynamic."

Diana Flores, The World Games gold medalist and Chair of the IFAF Athletes' Committee, said:

"To compete in the Olympic Games is the ultimate dream of every athlete, and millions of flag football players around the world will go to sleep dreaming of Los Angeles 2028 tonight. I want to thank everyone who has made this possible -- including all my fellow athletes and ambassadors who have played such a central role in driving the project forward.

"Together, we are determined to use this incredible stage to showcase the best of flag football - its speed, athleticism and creativity, and also its power to transform lives and include new communities in sports. As an athlete community, we are proud to be leading the way, but our goal must be to use this opportunity to inspire, lift up and empower a new generation around the world."

Roger Goodell, National Football League Commissioner, said:

"Congratulations to the International Federation of American Football on this landmark achievement for flag football and the global community that loves and plays our game.

"It's a tremendous honor for any athlete to represent their country at the Olympics. We have no doubt that this decision will inspire millions of young people around the world to play this game in the years ahead.

"The NFL is committed to working together to strengthen flag football's place in the Olympic movement long term, and we look forward to continuing this exciting journey with IFAF, the LA28 Organizing Committee, the International Olympic Committee and USA Football."

Scott Hallenbeck, CEO of USA Football and IFAF Vice President, said:

"Today is a momentous day for American football. We are incredibly thankful to the IOC and LA28 Organizing Committee for recognizing flag football as a sport worthy of inclusion in the Olympic Games, and we share our excitement and celebrate this historic occasion with the millions of flag football players across our country.

"The decision to add flag football to the 2028 Summer Olympic program in Los Angeles is an acknowledgment of the sport's tremendous international growth and appeal as a fast, exciting and competitive sport.

"USA Football works tirelessly to support the sport's exponential growth at all levels by encouraging the creation of more pathways to play, and inclusion in the Olympic Games will have a transformative impact on our sport -- from the grassroots level to our elite US National Teams.

"As the governing body of American Football in the United States, we are committed to continuing to work closely with IFAF, the USOPC and the NFL as we pursue our collective efforts to grow the game for current and future generations."