The countdown to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games —LA28— has begun in earnest, and flag football is positioning itself as one of the event’s major attractions. The first official schedule published by the organization has confirmed that this sport, which is making its Olympic debut, will have prime time slots during the competition’s central weekend.
The International Federation of American Football (IFAF), in collaboration with the NFL, has secured Friday night slots for the men’s medal matches at Exposition Park Stadium, popularly known as BMO Stadium. The women’s finals will take place on the afternoon of “Super Saturday” at the same venue.
Flag football takes center stage in Los Angeles
The IFAF has welcomed the decision, which reinforces the shared ambition to establish flag football as one of the major attractions of LA28. This scheduling comes after NFL owners approved league players’ participation in the Olympic competition, a key step in the sport’s international development.
Pierre Trochet, president of the IFAF, is in Los Angeles leading the federation’s first official visit to the Games organizers. “With three years to go, we feel that the momentum around flag football is enormous among all key players, from NFL players to partners and the media. This schedule is a clear sign of the shared ambition to make flag football a defining element of the success of LA28.”
International delegation and Olympic agenda
The delegation traveling to Los Angeles includes IFAF CEO Andy Fuller and senior NFL executives such as John Barker (SVP of Global Event Production and Operations), Kimberley Fields (SVP of American Football Business Strategy), and Stephanie Kwok, vice president and head of flag football at the NFL. The group will remain in the city for three days, beginning on Monday, a symbolic date that marks exactly three years until the start of the Games.
During the visit, the delegation plans to conduct preliminary tours of Exposition Park and other non-competitive venues in Los Angeles, as well as hold meetings with various departments of the organizing committee.
Presence of Olympic stars
Monday will also be the day chosen for the launch of a new NFL brand campaign focused on flag football. The initiative will feature Olympic gymnastics champion Jordan Chiles (United States), as well as Olympic hopefuls Kodie Fuller (Australia) and Ashlea Klam (United States). More information about the campaign is available at ‘media.nfl.com’.
