SoCal Flag

LA28 · Los Angeles

Flag Football at the LA28 Olympics

Follow flag football’s Olympic debut in Los Angeles: get the dates, venue, qualification update, and practical guidance for planning your visit.

The essentials

What is Olympic flag football, and how is it played?

Facts checked

Olympic flag football is a non-contact version of American football played by national teams. Defenders stop the ball carrier by pulling a flag from their belt rather than tackling. Expect passing and running plays, two 20-minute halves, and preliminary games followed by knockout rounds. Our guide to watching Olympic flag football explains the game.

When

July 15–22, 2028 · 14 sessions

All times Pacific. Schedule may change.

Where

Exposition Park Stadium in Los Angeles

LA28’s name for BMO Stadium.

Who plays

Separate men’s and women’s tournaments

Six countries in each tournament.

Tickets

LA28 says the next general-public ticket opportunity is in 2027; prices for that flag-football sale have not been posted.

LA28 flag-football ticket guide

14 sessions · Pacific Time

Schedule overview

The current LA28 schedule groups men’s and women’s preliminary games together. “Mixed Preliminary” does not mean coed teams, and individual country matchups have not yet been assigned to sessions.

July 15–19
Men’s and women’s preliminary sessions
July 20
Men’s semifinals
July 21
Women’s semifinals; men’s bronze- and gold-medal games
July 22
Women’s bronze- and gold-medal games
Full flag-football schedule

For spectators

Planning to attend?

LA28’s next general-public Olympic ticket opportunity is planned for 2027. Our ticket guide explains what is known about the buying process, session tickets, prices, and official resale. LA28 currently states that there will be no parking at venues for spectators. Do not plan on using ordinary BMO Stadium parking for Olympic flag football. Detailed venue arrival arrangements are still to come. Plan how to get there with our flag-football parking and transportation guide.

Read the LA28 flag-football ticket guide

The SoCal pathway

Local flag football, from youth to college

For parents and players, the route to high-level competition starts with local opportunities. Explore girls’ flag programs, high-school teams, and college programs, then follow national and LA28 coverage as qualification continues.

Girls pathway High-school teams College programs College guide National & Olympics news

Planning questions

Olympic flag football FAQs

Answers checked . Plans and availability may change.

When and where will flag football be played at the 2028 Olympics?

Flag football is scheduled for July 15–22, 2028 at Exposition Park Stadium in Los Angeles, known outside the Games as BMO Stadium. The current schedule has 14 sessions, with men’s medal games on July 21 and women’s medal games on July 22. Dates and times may change; see the full Olympic flag-football schedule.

Does “Mixed Preliminary” mean Olympic flag football teams are coed?

No. LA28 has separate men’s and women’s tournaments. “Mixed Preliminary” describes sessions that include games from both tournaments, not men and women playing on the same team. Read what to expect at Olympic flag football for the format and spectator basics.

Which countries have qualified, and have their Olympic players been selected?

As of October 21, 2026, the men’s field includes the United States, Italy, and Canada; the women’s field includes the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Three places remain in each six-country field. Country qualification does not select individual Olympic players: the 2026 World Championship squads are not confirmed LA28 rosters. Follow the qualified countries and remaining qualification pathway.

Can I choose a session specifically to watch Team USA?

Not yet with a confirmed Team USA matchup. As of October 21, 2026, the published schedule lists dates and competition stages, not country assignments. A session ticket does not guarantee a particular team, and reaching a semifinal or medal game depends on results. Check the session-by-session schedule and team-assignment guidance before buying.

How much will Olympic flag-football tickets cost, and when can I buy them?

As of October 21, 2026, LA28 says the next general-public Olympic ticket opportunity will be in 2027, with first-come, first-served sales rather than a ticket draw. Its current ticketing page does not list flag-football prices or an opening date for that sale. Availability is not guaranteed. See our Olympic flag-football ticket guide for buying guidance and official updates.

Can I use normal BMO Stadium parking for Olympic flag football?

LA28 currently states that there will be no parking at venues for spectators. Do not plan on using ordinary BMO Stadium parking for Olympic flag football. Detailed venue arrival arrangements are still to come. Our Olympic parking and transportation guide explains what is confirmed and what remains unannounced.

How do players get selected for Team USA’s Olympic flag-football teams?

USA Football selects the U.S. teams; a host-country berth does not give any athlete an automatic roster spot. Its April 6, 2026 preliminary notice anticipates evaluation through international competition, 2027 qualification activities, and 2028 trials and training camps. That notice is not the final Olympic selection procedure, and plans remain subject to approval. Our Team USA Olympic selection guide separates the development pathway from Olympic selection.

Official sources

Updated : added spectator FAQs, clarified game basics, and reviewed official sources. Recheck the schedule and country assignments, qualification field and player selections, ticket sale dates and prices, and transport arrangements as new official announcements are released.