American flag football’s dominance continues as the 2028 Olympics approach

The US men’s and women’s teams continued their dominance by winning the flag football world championship in Finland on Friday, but other nations are closing the gap as the sport gains momentum ahead of its 2028 Olympic debut.

The US men secured their fifth straight title and the women their third in a row, defeating Austria and Mexico respectively in the finals of the biggest world championship to date, with 54 teams from 30 countries competing.

Darrell “Housh” Doucette faced a barrage of internet trolls after he boldly stated that he and the rest of the US national flag football team were confident of keeping their roster spots, even if NFL stars aimed to join the team for the sport’s Olympic debut. 2028.

Those critics will have to wait, however, as Doucette threw six touchdown passes to four different receivers, leading the USA to a dominating 53-21 victory over Austria, securing an unprecedented fifth consecutive football world championship.

“This is our sport – we feel like we’re the pros,” Doucette said at the end of Friday’s final, broadcast from Lahti Stadium in Finland.

Flag football, a non-contact version of American football played by teams of five, was added to the program for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics in October last year. American football last appeared in the Olympics as a demonstration sport at the 1932 LA Games.

“It’s amazing, not only because of the number of teams, but also because of the talent and the level of the sport, so I’m really proud and happy to be part of this experience,” Mexico quarterback Diana Flores said after the final defeat them in Lahti. . Despite the loss, Flores expressed pride in her team and saw the championship as a stepping stone to the future.

Flores, a prominent sports figure who appeared in an ad that aired during the 2023 Super Bowl, is driven by her goal of leading Mexico to the Olympics. “I dream about it every day. It’s a goal. I want to represent my country in the Olympics with my team and to win an Olympic medal would be amazing,” he said.

Although the sport originated in the USA, flag football is gaining popularity worldwide. The simplified version of the non-contact game is easier for countries to adopt compared to NFL tackle football. Flores had particular praise for Japan, which reached the semifinals before losing to Mexico. “They’ve grown so much over the past year. They’re fast, they’re smart, and I know they’ll continue to get better,” he said.

Flag football is played on a 70×25 yard field with no blocking, kicking or tackling. The game ends when a defender pulls a flag stuck in the middle of the ball carrier or when the ball goes out of bounds.