Austria is the dominant force in international tackle football in Europe, while the nation’s men’s flag football team currently sits in second place in the IFAF World Rankings. Imagine the potential if those two elite programs were to join forces.

Well, now they have.

Under the guidance of men’s flag football head coach Michael Salamon and his staff, Austria’s elite flag and tackle national team players gathered in Schwechat just south of Vienna for a unique testing session. Players whose national teams have won two straight IFAF Men’s European Championships and multiple U19 crowns in tackle football worked out alongside some of Austria’s flag stars who reached the finals of the most recent IFAF world and continental championships.

The goal is to integrate the best football athletes in Austria into a unit that can compete for places in the squad for this year’s IFAF World Flag 2026 in Düsseldorf with the ultimate aim of qualifying for the 2028 Olympic Games.

“I am very satisfied with the performances of the guys,” said coach Salamon. “Of course, it is clear that there were still coordination difficulties with teams that had been put together at random, but you could see that this got better over the course of the day.

“We specifically wanted to give tackle football players the opportunity to try flag football at a high level and at the same time offer the flag players the chance to play in a different position. Overall, I am very satisfied with the day and now we will sit down together and analyze everything.”

A series of games were played by four mixed teams consisting of players from both disciplines. Among the athletes participating were Luis Effenberger, Valentin Ehrenfried, Maximilian Hillebrand, Martin Stur, and Benedikt Wolf, who have spearheaded Austria’s success on the flag football field. From tackle, Adrian Platzgummer, Bernhard Seikovits, Philipp Haun, Jan Mayerhofer, and Benjamin Straight were among those who took part.

“We have laid the foundation for further preparation, and many players were able to show their talent and potential,” said Hillebrand. “I am very excited for the first real camp in April.”

Tackle national team player Platzgummer added: “It was really a lot of fun, and we didn't know exactly what we were getting into, since it is a different sport after all. The individual skills like ball-handling can be carried over from tackle football, but of course there are also numerous things you have to adjust to – like the field size and the speed of the game.

“I already know that this won't be the last time. I can say that I want to fight for a spot on the flag football national team in the future.”

AFBÖ President Michael Eschlböck underlined that Austria’s target in addition to competing for a medal in Düsseldorf this summer is to qualify for the LA28 Olympic Games and that they will leave no stone unturned in the search for talented athletes.

“I am extremely pleased that many tackle football national team players have taken on the challenge of proving their skills in flag football,” he said. “Being able to represent your home country at the Olympic Games in LA28 is the pinnacle of an athletic career.

“Some individuals could, with full commitment, make their way into the team for this year's World Championship in Düsseldorf and thus the first qualifying round for LA28."