Will there be a shake up in the world order that has seen a United States men’s and women’s double celebration since 2018, or will the most dominant teams in IFAF competitions defend their titles?

The men’s juggernaut has been rolling since a 40-14 humbling of Mexico in 2014 began a dominating run of five straight IFAF world championship crowns. Denmark, Austria and Mexico have all since taken their shot at the gold standard in gold medal games without success. Then when the stars past and present of the NFL came calling under a bright spotlight at the Fanatics Flag Football Classic, America’s finest stood firm again and reminded the world that they are the firm favorites heading to Düsseldorf this summer.

While USA is assured of a place as hosts at LA28 when flag football makes its Olympic Games debut in Los Angeles, rest assured they have no intention of taking their foot off the gas this summer or in 2027.

“It’s great that we have the qualification, but I’d rather earn it,” said head coach George Cascudo. “I feel that we have to medal to truly earn our place at the Olympics. We’re going (to Düsseldorf) to win gold and leave silver and bronze for the other countries.”

America’s women have been knocked off the top of the IFAF World Rankings for the first time following defeats to archrival Mexico in the final of The World Games and the semifinals of the 2025 Americas continental championships.

But they arrive in Düsseldorf as reigning champions with a renewed determination to lift a fourth straight IFAF world title with the talent to return to the top and keep their crown.

In Opposition in Düsseldorf

USA men’s opponents in Group A in Düsseldorf are relatively unknown quantities. They will meet two teams from Oceania – Australia and America Samoa – for the first time in IFAF competition, although the Aussies did line up on the opposite side in a friendly competition in 2025. American Samoa is the competition’s lowest ranked team, currently sitting 33^rd in the world.

Australia triumphed at the Asia-Oceania games and were joined in qualification for World Flag 2026 by American Samoa who took the bronze medal in their debut tournament. The group quartet is completed by Israel; a nation USA has not met since 2018 when the Americans beat them in the quarterfinals en route to the gold medal.

The women are paired with two continental champions in Oceania winner Australia and conqueror of the first IFAF Africa Flag tournament Nigeria. USA breezed past Australia 48-6 at the IFAF world championships in Finland two years ago but will meet Nigeria for the first time. Spain is in opposition for a third straight tournament in Group B. USA beat them in the quarterfinals in 2024 and in the group stages in 2021.

Players to Watch

Men: Darrell ‘Housh’ Doucette III, quarterback

Women: Ashlea Klam, wide receiver

IFAF World Championships Pedigree

The United States men made it five in a row in Finland in 2024 as they kept a resurgent Austria at bay, beating them in the gold medal game just as they had in Panama in 2018. In between those titles, Mexico was defeated in Israel in 2021 as they had been in Italy in 2014.

The first US triumph came in Canada in 2010 with a victory over Europe’s dominant nation at the time Denmark, who were also beaten when the US won on home six four years later. The only time the Americans have lost in the gold medal game was in 2012 to Austria in Sweden. They have stood tall on the podium at the past seven IFAF world championships having first played for a medal back in 2008 in a third-place loss to France.

The women’s domination is just as impressive although USA had to settle for three successive silver medal finishes in 2010, 2012 and 2014. They got over the hump in 2018 with victory over host Panama to land that first goal and have twice beaten Mexico in the championship game to retain the world title.

The Coaches

USA men’s head coach Jorge Cascudo needs no introduction. A legendary flag football quarterback for the US men's national team before entering the coaching ranks, under his guidance USA has earned three gold medals including at The World Games 2022 in Birmingham, Alabama, the 2023 IFAF America's continental flag football championships and the 2024 IFAF flag football world championships in Lahti, Finland. Last year in Panama, USA was declared joint champions with Mexico. Prior to leading the US men's national team Cascudo was head coach of the Panamanian men's national team

USA women’s head coach Saaid Mortazavi is in his fourth year with the squad after joining the program in 2023. Under his guidance USA has put together two gold medal winning performances, first at the 2023 Americas continentals and then the IFAF World Championships in Lahti, Finland. Prior to leading the US women's national team, he served as assistant coach of the Panamanian men's national team in 2021 and head coach in 2022.

In Preparation

Monthly visits to the Chula Vista Elite Athletic Training Center near San Diego are already underway and will continue up until departure for Düsseldorf.

The men’s team has already played in exhibition games this year, beating Mexico at the Moscone Center in San Francisco during Super Bowl week. During that time, Cascudo explained then that the 12 players who won that game and formed the squad last year will join 48 athletes at tryouts and that number will be cut down to 12 new hopefuls. The two dozen remaining players will then try out together to determine the roster that will defend the crown in Germany.