An impressive lineup and a new expanded format will headline the Fanatics Flag Football Classic, set to take place March 21 at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles.
Originally scheduled for Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the event was moved to Los Angeles due to ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The showcase will still be broadcast on Fox Sports. The revamped event will feature three 12-player teams competing in a round-robin format. Two teams will consist of a mix of current and former NFL players along with athletes from other sports, while the third team will represent the U.S. national squad from USA Football, the reigning champions from the International Federation of American Football world championship.
One team will be captained by Tom Brady and Jalen Hurts with Sean Payton serving as head coach. The second squad will feature captains Joe Burrow and Jayden Daniels, coached by Kyle Shanahan. Robert Saleh will contribute as a defensive specialist for both teams. Team USA will be led by captains Aamir Brown and Darrell “Housh” Doucette and coached by Jorge Cascudo. The competition will follow a modified Olympic-style flag football format, featuring two 15-minute halves with a running clock on a 50-by-25-yard field. Teams will play in a round-robin tournament, with the top two advancing to the championship game.
The event also highlights the growing momentum of flag football ahead of the sport’s debut at the 2028 Summer Olympics, and will also help solve the debate of current USA Football Flag Football players vs the talent of the NFL players.