Dusseldorf to stage the 2026 World Cup event
2026 IFAF Flag Football World Championships Set to Take Place in Düsseldorf, Germany
The city of Düsseldorf is set to host the 2026 IFAF Flag Football World Championships from August 13 to 16, 2026, marking a significant milestone in the sport's journey towards its Olympic debut at the Los Angeles 2028 (LA28) Summer Games.
The tournament will take place at a dedicated flag football complex in the Garath district, a first for the city. This state-of-the-art facility will serve as the perfect backdrop for the world's best flag football players to compete at a high level, building momentum and visibility for the sport as it enters the Olympic program for the first time.
The 16 best men's and women's national teams will face off in this prestigious event, with each team qualifying through four continental tournaments later this year. The tournament is part of the IFAF, an international governing body that organizes competitions like the World Championships.
The US professional league NFL has been promoting flag football for years, hoping to reach new audiences. The NFL sees this event as an opportunity to increase the popularity of the sport in Germany, a country that has been slow to embrace American-style football.
Düsseldorf's Mayor Stephan Keller, a member of the CDU political party, shares this sentiment. He hopes that by hosting the World Championships, more people in Germany will take up flag football, a low-contact version of American football played five-on-five on a smaller field.
Mona Stevens, quarterback of the German women's national team, described the home World Championships as "something truly special." IFAF President Pierre Trochet described the tournament as a "groundbreaking edition" and an "exceptional" venue for the championships.
This isn't the first sports event in Germany to be hoped to inspire more people to take up a sport, but it is the first for flag football. With the Olympics just around the corner, the stakes are high, and the excitement is palpable. The 2026 IFAF Flag Football World Championships in Düsseldorf promises to be an unforgettable event for both the city and the sport.
Sports enthusiasts in Germany might find a new passion with the introduction of American-football, as the city of Düsseldorf gears up to host the 2026 IFAF Flag Football World Championships. In anticipation of American-football's Olympic debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Summer Games, the tournament will provide a platform for football rivals to compete, promoting a richer cultural landscape within the sport.
