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NFL owners have unanimously approved a measure to allow league players to participate in flag football competition at the 2028 Olympic Games.
The league’s owners passed a resolution, 32-0, during the spring meetings in Minneapolis on Tuesday, the league announced.
The measure will allow one player per team per country to participate in the event, which will be flag football’s first appearance at the Olympic Games.
“It’s an incredible honor for any athlete to represent their country in the Olympics, which is the pinnacle of global sport,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a press release. “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.”
There will be six nations represented in the competition, including the host United States, and the game will have a five-on-five format. The NFLPA was heavily involved in the decision to allow players to participate.
“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,” NFLPA executive director Lloyd Howell, Jr. said in the release.
“The NFL is trying to push flag football a little bit more to get more people into the game,” Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick said at the 2025 NFL Pro Bowl Games, the main event of which was a flag football contest “I would love to do it if I could.”
Further details about qualifying will be run by the International Federation of American Football, which had 31 nations compete in its most recent flag football World Championships.
“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,” IFAF president Pierre Trochet said. “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 2028 Olympic Games will be held in and around Los Angeles, California from July 14-30, 2028. BMO Stadium, the home of Los Angeles FC, will host the flag football events.
SoFi Stadium, home to the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers and Rams, will be hosting the swimming events and the opening ceremonies. Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum will host track and field events and the closing ceremonies, while the Rose Bowl will host the soccer evens in Los Angeles.
In addition to flag...
