The National Football League and the Fédération Française de Football Américain have announced a collaboration to launch the inaugural youth NFL Flag program in France.
NFL Flag is the official flag football program of the NFL. The launch of NFL Flag programming in France follows flag football’s official inclusion in the 2028 Olympic Summer Games program, which was confirmed on October 16. To kick off the partnership, NFL Flag and FFFA will work to host the NFL Flag France National Championship, which will see 12 teams from across the country take the field on November 25 at Stade Jean Bouin in Paris.
“Continuing to accelerate the development and growth of flag football across the globe is a significant priority for the NFL,” said Afia Law, NFL’s international flag football development and youth marketing manager. “As one of the most accessible sports in the world, we’re thrilled to work with FFFA to offer young athletes the opportunity to play the game – especially here in Paris on a global stage.”
The teams participating in the NFL Flag tournament in France will include groups of boys and girls under 12-years-old. The tournament champions will represent France in Orlando, Florida, as they participate in the NFL Flag International Division at the 2024 Pro Bowl Games in February.
“This event, in collaboration with the NFL, is a great opportunity to accelerate the development of youth flag football across the entire region,” said Brigitte Schleifer, president of FFFA. “The winning team will have the chance to go to the Pro Bowl Games and compete against teams from other nations. We’re excited to discover the young talent, both girls and boys, from our communities in the beautiful Jean Bouin stadium.”