The city of Ningbo will host the next Asia-Oceania Flag Football Championships, according to an announcement by the International Federation of American Football (IFAF). The competition will take place from October 23 to 27, 2025, and will mark the end of the first season of the new biennial cycle of continental tournaments promoted by the international body.
The event, which will serve as a qualifying round for the 2026 Flag Football World Cup, will be held at the Fenghua Sports Center with both men’s and women’s participation. It will be organized by the Chinese Rugby and Football Association (CRFA), which is responsible for the development of American football in the country.
Last stop on the continental calendar
The Ningbo event will close the 2025 IFAF continental championship circuit, which this year includes tournaments in Cairo (Africa, June), Panama City (Americas, September), and Paris (Europe, also in September). In Asia-Oceania, the current champions are Japan in the women’s category and Thailand in the men’s, after winning the previous edition held in Malaysia in 2023.
In addition, it will be the second major international flag football competition to be held in China, following the addition of the women’s tournament to The World Games Chengdu 2025, which will be held in August.
Flag football on the rise in China
The announcement comes at a key moment for the growth of flag football in China, where half a million people already play the sport and the goal is to reach one million players in the next two years. The NFL Flag program, implemented in Chinese schools, has helped introduce the sport to young people and teenagers, with more than 200,000 students involved.
At the same time, the CRFA has strengthened its high-performance structure with a view to the Olympic cycle. Since flag football was included in the Los Angeles 2028 program, more than 2,000 athletes and coaches have participated in talent identification and development events.
A showcase for China’s international debut
“The continental championship will be a perfect showcase for a sport that is gaining a lot of popularity in our country,” said Wang Yun, president of the CRFA. “This event marks the culmination of two decades of work in the development of Chinese flag football, which is now entering a new phase.”
For the first time, China’s national teams will compete in an official IFAF tournament, with the clear goal of beginning their journey to the Olympic Games in Los Angeles. “We are committed to delivering a top-level event,” Wang added.
China, a key player on the new international map
For IFAF President Pierre Trochet, China’s designation is a natural step in the global expansion of flag football. “The first IFAF events in China are another milestone in the growth of the sport. I appreciate the commitment of our colleagues at the CRFA. I am sure it will be a great championship and I am looking forward to seeing the debut of the Chinese national teams,” he said.
The Chinese women’s team will make its first official appearance at the World Games in Chengdu, where it will compete alongside the seven best teams from the last World Cup. The competition can be followed live from August 14 to 16 at live.worldgames.org.
