USA Football Announces Inaugural Nations Cup at The Star
USA FOOTBALL ANNOUNCES INAUGURAL NATIONS CUP AT THE STAR, SHOWCASING FUTURE OF FLAG FOOTBALL BEFORE OLYMPIC DEBUT
Four of the world’s best men’s and women’s teams collide in a tournament at The Star, the world headquarters of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys, as flag football builds toward its Olympic debut in LA28
FRISCO, TEXAS - OCTOBER 15, 2026 – USA Football, the National Governing Body of American Football responsible for selecting Team USA Football®, has announced its newest premier international competition. USA Football’s Nations Cup will bring together four of the world's top national teams to compete for medals in both men’s and women’s flag football. The inaugural tournament’s medal games will be held at Ford Center at The Star, the world headquarters of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys.
From December 10-12, USA Football will host men’s and women’s teams from China, Mexico and Japan. The pool play stage of the competition will be held at Dr. Pink Field at the Toyota Soccer Center in Frisco, Texas.
"Growing the game around the world is part of USA Football's job as the national governing body, and that's why we created Nations Cup to give the world's best flag football programs, including our U.S. National Teams, another opportunity to sharpen themselves against elite competition on the road to the sport's Olympic debut in 2028," said USA Football CEO Scott Hallenbeck. "Several teams qualified for LA28 at this year's IFAF Flag Football World Championships. Nations Cup brings those Olympic qualifiers together with top teams still chasing a bid, and it gives every one of them a chance to measure themselves against the best in the world.
"We're grateful to the Dallas Cowboys for opening The Star for the medal rounds. It's a world-class stage for the speed, creativity and excitement of international flag football."
All Nations Cup games will be played following the International Federation of American Football’s (IFAF) five-on-five rules, which will also be used when flag football makes its Olympic debut during the 2028 Summer Games.
The announcement of USA Football’s Nations Cup comes after the conclusion of the final IFAF Flag Football World Championships before LA28. Taking place in Düsseldorf, Germany, the world championships saw Mexico’s women’s team join both U.S. teams among the programs that have qualified for the Olympics.
"The momentum behind flag football is unlike anything we’ve seen in recent years, and we’re excited to help welcome the world to Frisco for USA Football’s first Nations Cup," said Charlotte Jones, Dallas Cowboys Co-Owner and Chief Brand Officer. "With the sport’s upcoming Olympic debut in Los Angeles, flag football is creating new opportunities for athletes at every level and capturing attention around the world. Hosting the Nations Cup at The Star is a tremendous opportunity to celebrate that growth, inspire young athletes, and showcase the highest level of international competition as the journey to LA28 continues."
On Aug. 16, the U.S. Men's National Team decisively defeated Italy 46-26 to capture its unprecedented sixth consecutive IFAF Flag Football World Championship. The team faced Japan in the quarterfinals and Mexico in the semifinals, winning both games on late touchdowns.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Women’s National Team earned a silver medal, narrowly falling to Canada, 20-27, in a contest that was decided on the final play.
Flag football is one of the fastest growing sports in the world, with many countries embracing and investing in the game over the past few years. The sport’s momentum is also surging in the U.S., where more than 20 states now sanction girls’ flag football as a varsity sport.
In addition to international competition, Nations Cup will also provide a stage for a High School Girls’ Flag Football Showcase. Before the gold medal games, two Texas high school teams will compete under The Star’s bright lights.
“We’re excited to partner with the Dallas Cowboys to shine a spotlight on the growth of girls’ flag football in Texas,” said Hallenbeck. “Flag football’s popularity is skyrocketing across the U.S., and the Cowboys have done a tremendous job driving the sport’s growth. Texas is consistently one of the most well-represented states in our National Team and development programs, which speaks to the state’s talent and ability to develop elite flag football athletes.”
Texas is a hotbed for talent and is the home state for several U.S. National Team athletes, including El Paso native Laneah Bryan, Houston native and Dallas resident Loryn Goodwin, former Texas Tech wide receiver and Hereford native Ja'Deion High and Austin native Ashlea Klam.
"As someone who has seen firsthand the impact football can have on young athletes, it’s exciting to see the momentum behind girls’ flag football continue to grow across Texas," said Danny McCray, Dallas Cowboys Youth Football Director and former Dallas Cowboys safety (2010-2013, 2015). "The Cowboys have been committed to supporting UIL sanctioning because we know how important it is to establish a true varsity pathway for these athletes. The interest, talent, and opportunities in the game are growing every day, and we want to ensure young women have every chance to compete, earn scholarships, and represent their communities at the highest levels of the sport."
The NCAA Committee on Access, Opportunity and Impact (CAOI) has voted to recommend Divisions I, II and III sponsor legislation to add a National Collegiate Flag Football Championship. The first championship could be held as early as the spring of 2028, several months before the LA28 Olympics.
This year’s U.S. National Team rosters consist of IFAF Flag Football World Champions, current college flag football stars and elite flag football athletes with backgrounds spanning college basketball, tackle football and track & field. More information on the men and women who make up Team USA Football is available in the 2026 U.S. National Team Media Guide.
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About USA Football
USA Football is the National Governing Body (NGB) for American Football in the United States and the sole U.S. member of the International Federation of American Football (IFAF), the international governing body for the sport of American football. USA Football selects, trains and leads Team USA Football® in tackle and flag football disciplines, while delivering world-class football development resources, sport standards and competitive opportunities to empower athletes at every level. USA Football is committed to ensuring every athlete has access to develop and compete in the game through safer, inclusive and innovative pathways. For more information, visit usafootball.com.
Contacts: Ryan Anderson, USA Football
Sam Teets, USA Football