Key Takeaways
- Nearly 1,000 teams and 10,000 athletes will compete February 19-22 at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort
- Seven countries are represented, including the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Panama, China, England, and the Bahamas
- Under Armour serves as presenting sponsor and will outfit all competing teams with on-field performance gear
- Division 1 Championship games stream live on ESPN+ on February 21 and 22
- Drew Brees and U.S. Women’s Flag National Team player Ashlea Klam will appear on-site during the event
Scale That Reflects Flag Football’s Growth
The 2026 Youth Flag Football World Championships, presented by Under Armour, kicks off this week at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex near Orlando. Organized by Unrivaled Sports, the event spans four days and covers boys/co-ed and girls divisions across age groups ranging from 5U to 18U.
The numbers are hard to ignore. Nearly 1,000 teams, 10,000 athletes, and representation from seven countries make this the world’s largest youth flag football tournament by participant count. For an industry tracking the rise of flag football at the youth level, that’s a meaningful data point.
Corporate Investment Follows the Field
Under Armour’s role goes beyond a logo on a banner. As presenting sponsor, the brand is outfitting every athlete at the tournament with on-field performance gear. Craig Cummings, Under Armour’s Vice President of Team Division, called it an investment in an “athlete-first experience.”
ESPN+ is also in the mix, streaming all Division 1 Championship games on Saturday and Sunday. The broadcast element adds visibility to a tournament that has historically been a grassroots-driven event, and reflects growing media interest in competitive youth flag football.
How This Fits Unrivaled’s Ecosystem
Unrivaled Sports frames the World Championships as the top of a tiered competitive structure under its Unrivaled Flag brand, connecting local and regional play to a national championship stage. The company’s partnership with Football ‘N’ America, the youth flag football league co-founded by Drew Brees, brought FNA into that ecosystem last year. Brees will be on-site this week, along with Klam, who Unrivaled partnered with to expand girls flag football pathways, including college recruiting showcases and skill clinics.
What Operators Should Watch
The combination of brand sponsorship, media distribution, international participation, and athlete-facing partnerships at a single event reflects how quickly the flag football segment is attracting investment and structure. Whether you’re a facility operator, league organizer, or brand evaluating youth sports entry points, flag football is increasingly worth tracking as a category with real infrastructure behind it.
Source: Unrivaled Sports Press Release
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