The National Football League is setting its sights on a bold new frontier: professional flag football. In a groundbreaking announcement made at the Leaders in Sport conference at London’s Twickenham Stadium, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell confirmed that both women’s and men’s professional flag football leagues are slated to launch within the next couple of years. This move comes as the league gears up for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, where flag football will make its much-anticipated Olympic debut.
“We’re committed to creating a women’s professional league and a men’s professional flag league,” Goodell told attendees, as reported by several major outlets. “We’ve had a great deal of interest in that, and I expect that we’ll be able to do that, launch that, in the next couple of years.” The announcement signals a strategic shift for the NFL, which is banking on flag football’s growing global appeal and accessibility as a way to draw in younger fans and broaden its reach.
The timing couldn’t be more fitting. With the Olympics just a few years away, the NFL is looking to establish a robust infrastructure that will nurture talent from the youth level all the way through to the professional ranks. “If you set that structure up where there’s youth leagues, going into high school, into college and then professional, I think you can develop a system of scale. That’s an important infrastructure that we need to create,” Goodell emphasized.
The demand for flag football is clearly on the rise. According to the NFL, the sport is played recreationally and in organized leagues in over 100 countries. It’s an inclusive, fast-paced game that can be played outdoors or indoors, and it’s accessible to players of nearly all ages. Colleges in the United States and universities internationally are expressing interest in making flag football a part of their athletic programs, further fueling the sport’s rapid expansion.
Troy Vincent, the NFL’s executive vice president of football operations, echoed Goodell’s enthusiasm, calling flag football “the future of the game.” He stated, “It’s the inclusion and the true motto of ‘football for all.’ There is a place in flag football for all.”
The rules of flag football offer a distinct contrast to the traditional tackle format. Games are played with five players per side and feature either 15- or 25-minute halves, with the clock stopping only for injury timeouts and halftime. Teams start at their own 5-yard line and must cross midfield within four plays to earn a first down. Notably, there are no kickoffs or field goal attempts—once a team crosses midfield, it has three plays to score a touchdown, worth six points. After scoring, teams can attempt an extra point from the 5-yard line or a two-point conversion from the 10-yard line. Each team gets a single 60-second timeout per half, keeping the action brisk and engaging.
The NFL’s recent history underscores its commitment to flag football. In 2023, the league replaced its traditional Pro Bowl tackle game with a flag football format, aiming to reduce injuries and showcase the sport’s excitement and skill. This change not only protected players but also introduced flag football to millions of fans, highlighting its potential as a spectator sport at the highest level.
Internationally, the NFL is ramping up its global presence like never before. This season, the league is holding a record seven games outside the United States—six in Europe and one in Brazil. London remains a central hub for these efforts, with Twickenham Stadium and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium joining the legendary Wembley Stadium as regular hosts for NFL action. Since the first international game in 2007, England’s capital has welcomed at least one NFL regular-season contest every year, except for 2020, when the pandemic brought international sports to a temporary halt.
Looking ahead, the NFL’s ambitions are even bigger. Goodell confirmed that Mexico City will return as a host for international games in 2026, following major renovations to Azteca Stadium in preparation for the World Cup. “We’ll be back in Mexico City next year, which we’re thrilled about,” Goodell said. The league’s goal is to increase the number of international games to 16 in the coming years, with plans already in place for Australia to host a matchup next season. Asia is firmly on the horizon as the next region for NFL expansion, although league officials have yet to specify which country will get the nod.
“If you’re going to be global, you have to do it beyond Europe, beyond the Americas,” Goodell noted. “You need to reach into other areas and territories, and next year we’re going to Australia. We have plans to go to Asia shortly thereafter.”
But it’s not just about growing the sport’s footprint. Both Goodell and Cleveland Browns co-owner Jimmy Haslam spoke passionately about football’s unique ability to unite people across divides—whether political, cultural, or geographic. “We read about different issues and we see the different things that go on in politics and otherwise… and unfortunately negative things like war,” Goodell reflected. “Again, I think football—and sports in general—I do think bring communities together. That’s a positive thing that we need a little more of.”
Haslam echoed this sentiment, pointing to the shared joy and camaraderie that sports provide. “The U.S. is extremely divided today politically,” he observed. “The great thing about sports is, no matter who I voted for or who you voted for… for the three hours or two hours we’re watching that game, we’re rooting for our team, and that’s all we care about.”
The inclusion of flag football in the 2028 Olympics adds another layer of excitement. The International Federation of American Football recently crowned Great Britain and Italy as women’s and men’s continental champions, respectively, in 2025. With the NFL’s backing and the sport’s Olympic debut on the horizon, flag football is poised for a breakthrough on the world stage.
From its origins as a pastime for U.S. military personnel during World War II to its current status as a global phenomenon, flag football’s journey has been nothing short of remarkable. The NFL’s commitment to professionalizing the sport signals a new era—one that promises more inclusivity, international flair, and opportunities for athletes everywhere.
As the league prepares to launch these new professional flag football leagues and expand its global reach, fans and players alike can look forward to a vibrant future for the sport. With the countdown to the 2028 Olympics underway, all eyes are on the NFL as it takes bold steps to shape the next generation of football.
