Key Takeaways
- The 2026 NFL Flag Championships will feature more than 350 teams from around the world, making it the largest edition of the tournament to date
- Grand Park Sports Campus in Westfield, Indiana offers 400+ acres and more than 30 multi-purpose fields for the July 23-26 event
- ESPN will broadcast games across ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, Disney+, Disney Channel, NFL+ and international markets
- Flag football now has 20 million players globally and will debut at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics
- The Indianapolis Colts have committed $1 million to support girls high school flag football in Indiana
Grand Park Lands Largest Youth Flag Tournament
The NFL announced that the third annual NFL Flag Championships presented by Toyota will take place at Droplight Grand Park Sports Campus in Westfield, Indiana from July 23-26, 2026. RCX Sports will operate the event, which the league describes as the largest youth flag football tournament in the world.
This year’s tournament will host more than 350 girls and boys teams from across the globe. Championship games are scheduled for Sunday, July 26.
“We’re thrilled to bring the NFL Flag Championships to Westfield, Indiana for what will be our biggest and most exciting tournament yet,” said Peter O’Reilly, NFL EVP of events, international and club business. “Flag football’s global growth, accelerated by its upcoming inclusion in the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, has been remarkable.”
Broadcast Coverage Expands Across Platforms
ESPN will provide live coverage starting Friday, July 24 through championship games on Sunday, July 26. Games will air on ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, ESPN Deportes and NFL+, with select games available on Disney+, Disney Channel, Disney XD, the ESPN App and ESPN on YouTube. International markets will also receive coverage.
“The NFL Flag Championship has quickly become a marquee event on our summer programming calendar,” said Mark Gross, ESPN senior vice president of sports production.
Why Indianapolis Makes Strategic Sense
The Indianapolis metro area brings established football infrastructure to the event. The region hosts the Indianapolis Colts and the annual NFL Scouting Combine. Grand Park Sports Campus spans more than 400 acres and includes over 30 multi-purpose fields.
Greg Stremlaw, co-CEO of Grand Park Sports & Entertainment, noted the facility’s ambitions in flag football. “It has been a key objective of ours to diversify our sport base and we are investing significantly into flag football in multiple ways as part of a multi-faceted flag football vision.”
The Colts have launched statewide flag football leagues connecting young athletes to NFL Flag-sanctioned programs. The franchise has also committed $1 million to support girls high school flag football across Indiana.
Flag Football’s Growth Trajectory
The sport continues gaining institutional support at multiple levels. Flag football now counts 20 million players worldwide and will make its Olympic debut in Los Angeles in 2028. NFL clubs recently voted to support the development and launch of a professional flag football league.
The NCAA has approved flag football for its Emerging Sports for Women program. Currently, 38 states offer girls high school flag football, and more than 100 colleges and universities have established women’s flag programs.
“The energy, talent, and international reach we’re seeing are a powerful reflection of the extraordinary momentum behind flag football’s growth,” said Izell Reese, CEO of RCX Sports.
via: NFL
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