NFL partners with American Football Australia to expand school flag football

The National Football League (NFL) and American Football Australia (AFA) announced a partnership that will re‑brand existing school flag‑football programs under the NFL Flag banner and integrate them into the Australian Sports Commission’s National Sporting Schools scheme. The agreement aims to deliver a nationwide pathway for primary and secondary students, encouraging participation from boys and girls and supporting the development of future Olympic athletes.

NFL General Manager for Australia and New Zealand Charlotte Offord said the deal will accelerate momentum in a market that has become one of the sport’s fastest‑growing regions. AFA CEO Wade Kelly highlighted the exponential growth of flag football in Australia and the program’s role in preparing the national men’s and women’s teams—ranked eighth and tenth globally—to compete for Olympic qualification at the 2026 IFAF World Championships in Düsseldorf.

The initiative comes as flag football prepares for its Olympic debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Games, with Australian officials also advocating for inclusion at the Brisbane 2032 Olympics.