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The FIFA World Cup may currently dominate the sporting landscape of the Americas, but another football movement is beginning to take shape.
As the 2028 Summer Olympics approach, flag football is quickly emerging as one of the most anticipated additions to the Games.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell recently shared his excitement for the tournament and revealed that many players are eager to represent their countries on the Olympic stage.
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A lot of players told me, ‘We want to be a part of this,'” Goodell told ESPN’s “Women’s Sports Now” last Thursday.
“These players are competitive and they love the big stage. Winning a gold medal or any medal is something I think they would all cherish. They talk about it all the time.”
Goodell added: “So I absolutely believe we will have players in the Olympics.”
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Josh Allen, the 2024 NFL MVP, suggested counting him among the group of active NFL players interested in representing the United States at the Summer Games in two years.
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) warms up before the first quarter during an NFL football AFC Wild Card playoff game, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Jacksonville, Florida. (Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Allen credited watching flag football with allowing him to appreciate the unique challenges the sport presents.
“I always thought it would be really cool to compete for my country. Now, if I have the skills, that’s a different story. I watched (flag football) not too long ago when it was on TV. These guys just move differently, their hips go down a foot and are able to dodge. I can throw with the best of them. But I’m generally better at running through people than turning and going around them.
Allen said earning the chance to compete for gold and play for Team USA at the Summer Games would mark a special chapter in his athletic career. “We’ll see, I’d be very honored to do it.”
Goodell said the Olympic schedule creates a natural window for NFL player participation, with flag football expected to be played before training camps open. He expects active players — and perhaps recently retired stars — to be in the mix when the sport makes its Olympic debut.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell speaks to the media during the Super Bowl winning team’s head coach and MVP press conference at the Mandalay Bay North Convention Center on February 12, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
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The 2028 Summer Olympics are scheduled to begin in mid-July.
In May 2025, a resolution was presented to NFL team owners that would allow one player from each NFL team to participate in the 2028 Games. An exemption would be granted to each team’s designated international player representing their home country.
