NFL

NFL Flag

2024-Present

With Flag Football confirmed as an Olympic sport for the Los Angeles 2028 Games, the NFL is accelerating its global growth strategy. Youth participation plays a critical role in building fandom, developing athletes, and expanding the sport internationally.

Since 2024, OBE London has partnered with the NFL to expand the NFL Flag programme across the UK and Ireland, building a scalable competition pathway connecting grassroots participation with national tournaments and international championships.

Building the National Pathway

Working alongside the NFL, OBE helped develop and deliver the NFL Flag competition pathway in the UK. The programme connects grassroots leagues with Regional tournaments and the National Championships, creating a clear progression from participation to elite youth competition.

In 2025, the programme engaged more than 2,180 young athletes who competed across 10 regional tournaments in the UK and four provincial tournaments in Ireland, culminating in two National Championships. Winning teams earned the opportunity to represent the UK at the NFL Flag International Championships.

Expanding the Programme

Following the success of the UK programme, OBE partnered with the NFL to expand the model into Ireland for its inaugural season. The programme introduced Provincial tournaments and an all-Ireland National Championship to crown Ireland’s first NFL Flag champions and establish a new pathway for athletes progressing to international competition.

Delivering the Global Stage

In 2026, OBE partnered with the NFL to deliver the NFL Flag 13U International Championships in San Francisco, bringing together national champions from around the world.

Hosted during Pro Bowl Games week, the three-day tournament welcomed a record 14 countries competing in a celebration of the sport’s rapid global growth.

Beyond the competition itself, OBE curated a week-long programme of experiences across the San Francisco Bay Area for the travelling teams. These moments created lasting memories for young athletes while strengthening the international NFL Flag community.

Impact

From grassroots leagues to global competition, OBE continues to support the NFL’s efforts to scale NFL Flag internationally. The programme is building participation, developing young athletes, and helping grow the next generation of NFL fans around the world.