The CFL has officially approved its players to participate in flag football at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles

CFL Players Cleared to Compete in Flag Football at 2028 Los Angeles Olympics

The Canadian Football League’s board of governors has unanimously approved allowing its players to take part in flag football at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

This decision means CFL athletes can now be selected by their respective national Olympic committees and federations to represent their countries. The league will collaborate with the CFL Players’ Association (CFLPA), the International Federation of American Football (IFAF), and Olympic officials to establish clear participation guidelines for the LA28 Games.

The CFL currently features 37 Global players from 16 countries, in addition to its Canadian and American stars.

“Representing your country in best-on-best competition is a tremendous honour,” said CFL commissioner Stewart Johnston. “Even though the Olympics overlap with our season, the board saw the incredible opportunity this presents — our players will experience a once-in-a-lifetime event, showcase the CFL to a global audience, and help grow the game both in Canada and around the world.”

Flag football will make its Olympic debut at LA28, with six teams per gender competing in a five-on-five format. Each squad will have 10-player rosters, and the tournaments will run from July 15 to 22, 2028, at Exposition Park Stadium.

CFLPA president Solomon Elimimian also praised the decision:

“For many, flag football was where their football journey began. Seeing CFL players compete on the world stage will highlight the talent in our league and inspire the next generation. We’ll continue working with the CFL to ensure our players make the most of this opportunity while keeping their health and safety a priority.”

Flag football is governed by the IOC-recognized IFAF, which includes 75 national federations across all continents. The sport’s rapid global growth has been evident, with a record 101 national teams taking part in IFAF’s Continental Championships in 2025. The top 16 men’s and women’s teams have qualified for the 2026 World Championships in Germany.

At the 2025 IFAF Americas Continental Championship in Panama, Canada’s senior men’s team finished third, while the women’s team claimed second place — both advancing to next year’s World Championships.