International Flag Football | NFL Football Operations

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data-link="https://operations.nfl.com/journey-to-the-nfl/the-nfl-s-international-impact/international-flag-football/" data-picture="https://operations.nfl.com/media/6020/ifaf-womens-4.jpg?rxy=0.46786632390745503,0.3269230769230769&width=627&height=410&v=1db34522cb2a770&quality=85" data-name="International Flag Football" data-caption="">Facebook</a> </li> <li><a class="twitter" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/share?text=RT%20International%20Flag%20Football&url=https%3A%2F%2Foperations.nfl.com%2Fjourney-to-the-nfl%2Fthe-nfl-s-international-impact%2Finternational-flag-football%2F">X (Twitter)</a></li> <li><a class="email" href="mailto:?subject=International Flag Football&body= https://operations.nfl.com/journey-to-the-nfl/the-nfl-s-international-impact/international-flag-football/">Email</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="subnav-inline-container "> <div class="wrapper"> <div class="category-container"> <span class="icon players"></span> <h3><span>NFL's International Impact</span></h3> </div> <div class="subnav-container"> <div class="wrapper-dropdown"> <button id="subnav-dropdown">Explore This Section</button> <ul class="dropdown"> <li><a class="" href="/journey-to-the-nfl/the-nfl-s-international-impact/the-nfl-s-international-impact/" title="The NFL’s International Impact"><span>NFL's International Impact</span></a></li> <li><a class="" href="/journey-to-the-nfl/the-nfl-s-international-impact/international-players-road-to-the-nfl/" title="International Players’ Road to the NFL"><span>International Players</span></a></li> <li><a class="" href="/journey-to-the-nfl/the-nfl-s-international-impact/the-nfl-international-series/" title="The NFL International Series"><span>International Series</span></a></li> <li><a class="active" href="/journey-to-the-nfl/the-nfl-s-international-impact/international-flag-football/" title="International Flag Football"><span>International Flag Football</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <a href="/learn-the-game/nfl-basics/rookies-guide/nfl-video-rulebook/" class="button"><span><b>View Video Rulebook</b></span></a> </div> </div> <div class="content-block article-half "> <div class="content"> <h5><span data-contrast="auto">As football continues to grow globally, flag football is opening doors to many who otherwise would not have a chance to play the game.</span></h5> <aside class="info"> <p>Check out <a href="https://operations.nfl.com/updates/the-game/flag-at-the-world-games-sends-message-that-football-is-for-all/">Troy Vincent Sr.'s op-ed</a> about football being for all</p> </aside> <p><a href="https://www.americanfootball.sport/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span data-contrast="none">The International Federation of American Football</span></a><span data-contrast="auto"> is the global governing body responsible for growing American football around the world. The IFAF leads the regulation, competition, performance and development of the game. Currently, </span><a href="https://www.americanfootball.sport/member-federations/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span data-contrast="none">over 70 nations are IFAF members</span></a><span data-contrast="auto">. </span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></p> <p><span data-contrast="auto">Flag football competitions are a major part of the IFAF’s efforts, along with other international competitions. The IFAF first held world championships for men’s and women’s flag football in 2002 with tournaments occurring biannually.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></p> </div> </div> <div class="content-block article-half "> <div class="content"> <div class="full-width"> <table border="0" data-tablestyle="MsoTableGrid" data-tablelook="1184" aria-rowcount="11"> <tbody> <tr aria-rowindex="1"> <td data-celllook="0"> <p><span data-contrast="auto">Year</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></p> </td> <td data-celllook="0"> <p><span data-contrast="auto">Men’s Flag World Champions</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></p> </td> <td data-celllook="0"> <p><span data-contrast="auto">Women’s Flag World Champions</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></p> </td> </tr> <tr aria-rowindex="2"> <td data-celllook="0"> <p><span data-contrast="auto">2002</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></p> </td> <td data-celllook="0"> <p><span data-contrast="auto">Austria</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></p> </td> <td data-celllook="0"> <p><span data-contrast="auto">Sweden</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></p> </td> </tr> <tr aria-rowindex="3"> <td data-celllook="0"> <p><span data-contrast="auto">2004</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></p> </td> <td data-celllook="0"> <p><span data-contrast="auto">Austria</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></p> </td> <td data-celllook="0"> <p><span data-contrast="auto">Mexico</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></p> </td> </tr> <tr aria-rowindex="4"> <td data-celllook="0"> <p><span data-contrast="auto">2006</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></p> </td> <td data-celllook="0"> <p><span data-contrast="auto">France</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></p> </td> <td data-celllook="0"> <p><span data-contrast="auto">France</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></p> </td> </tr> <tr aria-rowindex="5"> <td data-celllook="0"> <p><span data-contrast="auto">2008</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></p> </td> <td data-celllook="0"> <p><span data-contrast="auto">Canada</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></p> </td> <td data-celllook="0"> <p><span data-contrast="auto">Mexico</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></p> </td> </tr> <tr aria-rowindex="6"> <td data-celllook="0"> <p><span data-contrast="auto">2010</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></p> </td> <td data-celllook="0"> <p><span data-contrast="auto">United States of America</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></p> </td> <td data-celllook="0"> <p><span data-contrast="auto">Canada</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></p> </td> </tr> <tr aria-rowindex="7"> <td data-celllook="0"> <p><span data-contrast="auto">2012</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></p> </td> <td data-celllook="0"> <p><span data-contrast="auto">Austria</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></p> </td> <td data-celllook="0"> <p><span data-contrast="auto">Mexico</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></p> </td> </tr> <tr aria-rowindex="8"> <td data-celllook="0"> <p><span data-contrast="auto">2014</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></p> </td> <td data-celllook="0"> <p><span data-contrast="auto">United States of America</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></p> </td> <td data-celllook="0"> <p><span data-contrast="auto">Canada</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></p> </td> </tr> <tr aria-rowindex="9"> <td data-celllook="0"> <p><span data-contrast="auto">2016</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></p> </td> <td data-celllook="0"> <p><span data-contrast="auto">United States of America</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></p> </td> <td data-celllook="0"> <p><span data-contrast="auto">Panama</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></p> </td> </tr> <tr aria-rowindex="10"> <td data-celllook="0"> <p><span data-contrast="auto">2018</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></p> </td> <td data-celllook="0"> <p><span data-contrast="auto">United States of America</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></p> </td> <td data-celllook="0"> <p><span data-contrast="auto">United States of America</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></p> </td> </tr> <tr aria-rowindex="11"> <td data-celllook="0"> <p><span data-contrast="auto">2021*</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></p> </td> <td data-celllook="0"> <p><span data-contrast="auto">United States of America</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></p> </td> <td data-celllook="0"> <p><span data-contrast="auto">United States of America</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p><em> *The 2020 IFAF Championships were postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. </em></p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="content-block article-half "> <div class="content"> <figure class="right-small"> <img alt="" src="/media/6005/usa-womens-national-team-2.jpg?mode=max&width=995"> </figure> <p><span data-contrast="auto">In 2020, the NFL, IFAF, and International World Games Association announced that </span><span data-contrast="none">flag football would be added to the 2022 World Games</span><span data-contrast="auto">.</span></p> <p>The flag football competition featured eight men’s and eight women’s teams from around the world.</p> <p>“Being a part of the sports program in the 2022 World Games formalizes flag football as an international sport, which promotes the values and benefits of the game to fans around the world,” said Troy Vincent Sr., NFL executive vice president of football operations. “Flag football affords men and women, boys and girls, of all ages, body types, and athletic skills the opportunity to enjoy the values, fun and competitive environment that only football offers.” </p> <p>The 2022 U.S. men’s and women’s flag football teams each competed in Gold Medal games in Birmingham, Alabama with the U.S. men winning gold and U.S. women winning silver. The U.S. women were defeated by Mexico's national team in the Gold Medal game.</p> <p>The 2022 World Games marked the first time that flag football was part of an international, multi-sport event. More than 3,500 athletes from approximately 100 countries competed.</p> </div> </div> <div class="content-block article-half "> <div class="content"> <div class="full-width"> <h3>Growing the Game with NFL FLAG </h3> </div> <figure class="right-small"> <img alt="" src="/media/6002/aj_day3_edits-085.jpg?mode=max&width=995"> </figure> <aside class="info"> <p>Learn more: <a rel="noopener" href="https://playfootball.nfl.com/discover/news-and-features/nfl-flag-announces-launch-of-nfl-flag-canada/" target="_blank">NFL FLAG Launches In Canada</a></p> </aside> <p>NFL FLAG is the largest youth flag football league in the U.S., with over half a million athletes competing in all 50 states. </p> <blockquote><a href="https://nflflag.com/"><span data-contrast="none">Learn more about NFL FLAG leagues in the U.S.</span></a><span data-contrast="auto"> </span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></blockquote> <p>NFL FLAG helps students across the U.S. become active and learn the game. Since 2014, the NFL FLAG-In-Schools program has distributed more than 24,000 flag football kits to physical education programs across the country, reaching an estimated 1.3 million students. </p> <p>Recently, the NFL FLAG-In-School program has expanded to reach international students — providing kits for students in Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and China.</p> <p> </p> </div> </div> <div class="content-block related-content"><div class="content"> <div class="related-content-container clear"> <h2 class="header">Related Content</h2> <a class="related-content" href="/journey-to-the-nfl/play-football/"> <div class="image-container kenburns"> <img class="related-image scale" width="352" height="235" src="https://operations.nfl.com/media/3813/youth-landing-page-hero-v3.jpg?rxy=0.4972067039106145,0.42016806722689076&width=352&height=235&v=1d528527f91f980&quality=85" alt="Play Football"> </div> <div class="title-container players"> <h3 class="title">Play Football</h3> <p>Promoting the values of football.</p> </div> </a>  <a class="related-content" href="/journey-to-the-nfl/the-next-generation-of-nfl-stars/getting-into-the-game/"> <div class="image-container kenburns"> <img class="related-image scale" width="352" height="235" src="https://operations.nfl.com/media/j40ljwpy/hero-2024-25-getting-into-the-game.jpg?width=352&height=235&v=1db134be604a2a0&quality=85" alt="Getting Into the Game"> </div> <div class="title-container players"> <h3 class="title">Getting Into the Game</h3> <p>Preparing players of all ages for success at football’s highest level.</p> </div> </a>  <a class="related-content" href="/journey-to-the-nfl/the-nfl-s-international-impact/international-players-road-to-the-nfl/"> <div class="image-container kenburns"> <img class="related-image scale" width="352" height="235" src="https://operations.nfl.com/media/5971/mailata-with-fans.jpg?rxy=0.632398753894081,0.6796116504854369&width=352&height=235&v=1db3451e81cf9d0&quality=85" alt="International Players’ Road to the NFL"> </div> <div class="title-container players"> <h3 class="title">International Players’ Road to the NFL</h3> <p></p> </div> </a>  </div>  </div></div> <div class="content-block pagetop players"> <div class="content"> <h3><a id="pagetop">Back to Top</a></h3> </div> </div> <div class="footer"> <div class="content"> <a href="/"> <img class="logo" src="/images/logo_nflops-lightbg300@2x.png" alt="NFL Football Operations Logo" style="width: 300px;"> </a> <ul class="footer-links"> <li><a href="/">Home</a></li> <li><a href="/#gameday--homepage-block">Gameday</a></li> <li><a href="/#learn-the-game-homepage-block">Learn the Game</a></li> <li><a href="/#officiating--homepage-block">Officiating</a></li> <li><a href="/#journey-to-the-nfl-homepage-block">Journey to the NFL</a></li> <li><a href="/#the-rules-homepage-block">The Rules</a></li> <li><a href="/#inside-football-ops-homepage-block">Inside Football Ops</a></li> <li><a href="/updates/">Updates</a></li> <li><a href="/search/">Search</a></li> </ul> <p class="intro-description"> NFL Football Operations’ mission is to establish a culture of clarity, consistency and credibility in all aspects of the greatest game. 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