How to qualify in Flag football
How flag football teams qualify for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics
Flag football is new to the Olympics at Los Angeles 2028: six teams of ten players per gender. Places go to the country.
Places already won. At the 2026 IFAF World Championships in Düsseldorf (13 to 16 August 2026), the two best teams other than the host qualified:
| Qualified | Result | |
|---|---|---|
| Men | United States (host) | Winner |
| Men | Italy | 2nd |
| Men | Canada | 3rd |
| Women | Canada | Winner |
| Women | United States (host) | 2nd |
| Women | Mexico | 3rd |
Still to come: the Olympic Qualifier Series (Montreal on 1 to 4 June 2028; Orlando on 8 to 11 June 2028), a ten-team tournament per gender with two teams from each 2027 continental championship, including the Asia Championship. Its top three qualify, from at least two continents.
Places (per gender)
| Route | Teams |
|---|---|
| Host (United States) | 1 |
| 2026 World Championships | 2 |
| Olympic Qualifier Series 2028 | 3 |
| Total | 6 |
- The host place depends on the United States playing the 2026 World Championships and the 2027 continental championships.
- Teams already qualified cannot enter the Qualifier Series; a team that declines is replaced by the next team from its continental championships.
Who can play
18 or older on 31 December 2028; IFAF eligibility rules (age, nationality, transgender policy).
Dates
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| 13 to 16 August 2026 | World Championships, Düsseldorf (done) |
| 2027 | Continental championships (Americas, Africa, Asia, Oceania, Europe) |
| 1 to 4 June 2028 | Qualifier Series, Montreal |
| 8 to 11 June 2028 | Qualifier Series, Orlando |
| 26 June 2028 | Entries deadline for the Games |
| 14 to 30 July 2028 | LA28 Olympic Games |
Where the document disagrees with itself. It calls the Qualifier Series "a 10-team tournament" and also a "combined men's and women's tournament", but sets a ten-team quota (two per continent) without saying whether that is per gender or in total.
Where to follow it
americanfootball.sport publishes results.