Flag Football at the 2028 Olympics
Flag football makes its Olympic debut at Los Angeles 2028 — a 5-on-5 game, played at one downtown-LA stadium, with a tight six-team field in both the men's and women's tournaments. Here are the three things people actually search for: where it'll be played, how the game is set up, and exactly how national teams qualify. For the wider story — the pro league and the world's national programs — see our Road to LA 2028 hub.
Where flag football will be played
Olympic flag football will be played at BMO Stadium, an open-air stadium in Exposition Park in Los Angeles — right next to the LA Memorial Coliseum and home to MLS club LAFC. It is one of the city's newest venues, and the same stadium hosts boththe men's and women's tournaments.
Putting flag football in a compact, downtown soccer-sized stadium fits the game: the field is smaller than a full gridiron, the action is fast, and a full house sits close to the play. It is a deliberate contrast to the sport's usual home on 100-yard fields.
How the Olympic game is played
The Olympic game is 5-on-5, played on a 50-yard field that is 25 yards wide, with two 10-yard end zones. Teams carry rosters of about a dozen players and put five on the field at a time, generally designating players for offense and defense.
As in flag football everywhere, there is no tackling and no blocking — a play ends when a defender pulls a flag from the ball-carrier's belt. If you are new to the sport, our how to play flag football guide walks through the rules, and the full rulebook covers how different rule sets vary.
How national teams qualify
With only six places in each tournament, qualification is tight. Under the announced pathway there are three ways in — the host berth, the World Championships, and the Olympic Qualifier Series — and together they fill the six-team field in each gender.
| Route | When | Places | How it works |
|---|---|---|---|
| Host berth | Automatic | 1 per tournament | As the host nation, the United States is guaranteed a place in both the men's and women's tournaments and does not have to qualify. |
| IFAF World Championships | 2026 · Düsseldorf, Germany | 2 per tournament | The top two finishers per gender at the 2026 IFAF Flag Football World Championships — not counting the already-qualified USA — earn direct places at LA 2028. |
| Olympic Qualifier Series | 2028 | 3 per tournament | Teams that advance through the 2027 IFAF continental championships move into the 2028 Olympic Qualifier Series, where the final three places per gender are decided. |
One host place, two from the 2026 World Championships, and three from the 2028 Qualifier Series make six. The governing bodies — the IOC, LA28, and the IFAF — can still refine the details, so treat exact dates and slot counts as the published plan rather than a settled result. The women's tournamentfollows the same structure as the men's.
Olympic flag football FAQ
Where will flag football be played at the 2028 Olympics?
Flag football will be played at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, an open-air stadium in Exposition Park next to the LA Memorial Coliseum and home to MLS club LAFC. The one venue hosts both the men's and women's tournaments.
How do teams qualify for Olympic flag football?
There are three routes to LA 2028. The United States qualifies automatically as the host nation. The top two teams per gender at the 2026 IFAF World Championships in Düsseldorf (excluding the USA) earn direct places. The remaining three places per gender are decided at the 2028 Olympic Qualifier Series, which is fed by the 2027 IFAF continental championships. That adds up to a six-team field in each tournament.
How many teams play flag football at the 2028 Olympics?
Six teams per gender — six men's national teams and six women's national teams. It is a compact field, which is part of why qualification is so competitive.
Is the United States automatically qualified?
Yes. As the host nation, the United States receives an automatic berth in both the men's and women's tournaments and does not go through qualifying. The USA also enters as the dominant program in international flag football.
What is the format of Olympic flag football?
It is a 5-on-5 game played on a 50-yard field that is 25 yards wide with two 10-yard end zones. Teams carry rosters of about a dozen players and put five on the field at a time, typically designating players for offense and defense. There is no tackling or blocking — a play ends when a defender pulls a ball-carrier's flag.
When does flag football make its Olympic debut?
The 2028 Los Angeles Games are flag football's Olympic debut. The International Olympic Committee added it to the LA 2028 program alongside both a men's and a women's tournament.
The Snap · free from Flag Football Planet
Flag football is going to the Olympics.
Follow Team USA's road to LA 2028 — qualification, rosters, and the sport's rise.