The 2026 IFAF World Flag will be a pivotal moment for both the men’s and women’s national teams of Mexico.
Led by one of the most iconic athletes in flag football, Diana Flores, the women’s team will arrive in Düsseldorf with a greater weight of expectation than ever before. They compete for the first time as the world’s number one ranked team and look to add a title that has eluded them since 2012 to gold medals won last year at The World Games and the IFAF Americas continental championships. The pressure is on.
Mexico has seen great rival the United States take home the past two IFAF world crowns at their expense in 2024 in Finland, losing 31-18 and before that in Israel in 2021 where USA triumphed 31-21.
But Mexico turned the tide and announced their intention to sit on top of the world both in terms of rankings and titles by defeating USA in the semifinals and Canada in the final of the Americas in Panama last year, and by winning for a second straight time at The World Games. Wide receiver Victoria Chavez making the gold medal winning catch as time expired was the most enduring highlight of the tournament as Mexico claimed victory on literally the last play of an epic victory.
The men missed out on an opportunity to contest gold two years ago in Finland when Austria upset them in the semifinals of the IFAF World Championships. Then surprise package Switzerland denied them a medal of any kind in the battle for third place.
Mexico rebounded at the Americas in 2025, seeing off the challenge of a high-powered Canada offense to reach the final. That title game against old foes the United States was cancelled due to inclement weather and when the rivals met in a friendly challenge during the week of Super Bowl LX in San Francisco, Mexico lost by a single point. The slim difference was a late interception returned for a touchdown. Mexico currently ranks third in the world behind USA and Austria.
In Opposition in Düsseldorf
A trio of European nations lie in wait for the Mexico women with Italy, host Germany and the tournament’s lowest ranked team Slovenia in opposition in Group A. Two years ago, Mexico breezed past Italy 45-6 at the world championships in Finland and beat them 46-7 at The World Games in 2025. Germany was dispatched 33-20 when the two nations last met at the 2021 IFAF World Championships in Israel where Mexico knocked out Italy in the quarterfinals.
In group C, the men also face the host nation Germany and have a chance to avenge that 2024 world championship bronze medal game defeat to Switzerland. They face a continental rival in Brazil. Mexico inflicted Germany’s only defeat in the group stages of the 2021 competition, while their last meeting with Brazil was a 50-26 win at the 2023 IFAF Americas championships.
Players to Watch
Women: Alisson Salazar, defensive back
Men: Christopher Padron, wide receiver
IFAF World Championships Pedigree
Mexico’s women boast three world titles, beating Finland (2004), Canada (2008) and the United States by a single point (2012), with two of those victories coming on European soil. Add two silvers, a bronze and a pair of fourth place finishes to their haul and it’s fair to say that Mexico will expect to be challenging for a medal and qualification for the Olympic Games.
An IFAF world championships gold has thus far proved elusive for Mexico’s men who have finished in the top four during each of the last six tournaments. Silver was won in 2014 in Italy and 2021 in Israel as the United States began and continued a dominant winning streak that has since stretched to five straight titles.
The Coaches
Fernando Alfaro currently presides over both the men’s and women’s teams as head coach. In his first year at the helm, he led the women to glory at The World Games and the IFAF Americas in 2025. He is assisted by Fernando Nahara.
The women’s team features coordinator Topacio Conde, Pamela Reyes, Luis Gutierrez and Ariana Lora, while the men’s staff includes coordinator María Huerta, Rodrigo Arista, Rodrigo Romero and Ricardo Corona.
In Preparation
Mexico’s activities so far in February have seen a series of scrimmage games played among the existing national teams and athletes invited to claim a place in the squad, the latest session taking place during three days in Mexico City with more than 100 participants.
“The competition is very intense from day one; there are many players competing and few spots, so they want to make the most of every play they have to show their talent,” said head coach Fernando Alfaro. “There is a lot of quality in this group. These are players who are arriving increasingly well-prepared in all areas – physical, football, and mental.
“I believe that knowing out best players very early in the process has been key to achieving good results, as you have time to bring them together, get them to master the system, and prepare them physically for the competition.”
Photo: Ernesto Campuzano
