With qualification for the 2026 IFAF Flag Football World Championships assured, 16 men’s national teams from five continents will converge on Dusseldorf from August 14-16 with the World Flag gold medal the ultimate prize.
They include defending world champions, recently crowned continental champions, emerging forces and two nations new to the global stage. Previously all IFAF member federations competed in an arena that is now reserved for 16 elite teams that earned the right to compete at IFAF World Flag 2026.
Africa (1 nation)
Nigeria leads Africa’s challenge having won the first-ever IFAF Africa Flag continental championships this summer. Nigeria triumphed 13-12 over host Egypt as a successful extra point play proved the slim difference that claimed the gold medal.
“It’s amazing, it’s surreal, it’s history, it’s unbelievable,” said Nigeria quarterback Hayes Obinna-Uzoh, whose nation competes at this level for the first time. “We’ve made history.”
Americas (5 nations)
The powerhouse that is the United States will head to Dusseldorf looking to add a sixth straight world title having qualified alongside Mexico as both nations were declared co-champions at the 2025 IFAF Americas Flag tournament in Panama.
Canada celebrated winning the bronze medal with a 32-22 victory over Panama who also earned an IFAF World Flag berth. Canadian quarterback Michael O’Connor threw for five touchdowns to four different receivers in the win.
Fifth place at the Americas earned the final spot in Dusseldorf and it was Brazil who edged a nerve-wracking contest 7-0 over South American rivals Argentina to lock in the coveted place.
Asia-Oceania (3 nations)
Asia’s sole representative will be Japan after they secured a dramatic 40-39 win over host China to seal the continental championship that had eluded them two years earlier.
Defeat for China paired them in a winner-takes-all playoff against the second placed team from Oceania and from that contest, American Samoa emerged as 41-34 winners to earn a first-ever IFAF World Flag berth.
Australia will fly the flag for Oceania having finished top of the three-nation group, defeating both New Zealand and American Samoa twice as the tournament’s only unbeaten team. Just for good measure, they beat Japan to claim the overall Asia-Oceania gold medal.
“It’s the players, that’s the secret,” said Australia head coach Drew Aumavae. “It just took a lot of going back to the fundamentals and they bought into that. It’s basically a foundation and we’ll just build on that.”
Europe (7 nations)
Germany qualified automatically as hosts of IFAF World Flag 2026 and will be joined by six other European nations. Germany won the 2023 Euro Flag title but were unable to build on that success at the world and continental championships that followed. Germany won the silver medal at the first two IFAF world championships in 2002 and 2004.
Italy was crowned the men’s champion at IFAF Euro Flag 2025, beating Austria 27-19 in the gold medal game. The resurgent Italians won the silver medal at The World Games in 2022.
“It’s just unbelievable,” said Italy wide receiver Vincent Papale. “I’m just so happy to be here and be part of this team and wear Italy across my chest. We firmly believe we’re the best offense not only in Europe but also in the world and we’ll put that to the test in Germany next year.”
Runners up Austria, also silver medalists at the 2024 world championships, were the last nation to win gold on the world stage in 2012 before America’s domination. They were champions at the inaugural tournament in 2002 and defended their title in 2004.
“What we can do better is get faster and I think we’re on a really good track,” said Austria defensive back Sebastian Wolf of his nation’s back-to-back second place finishes. “We have a lot of good young players coming through and the future is bright.”
Champions in 2006, France qualified by winning the Euro Flag bronze medal in a close 34-20 win over Great Britain, who also booked their ticket to Dusseldorf.
Great Britain defensive captain Oliver Dyer said: “It’s a new regime, a lot of new players a lot of new faces although we wanted more. This is GB’s best finish on the men’s side ever and it says we’re going in the right direction.”
Israel will bring their high-scoring offense to Germany having finished fifth at Euro Flag, while 2024 world championship bronze medalists Switzerland qualified in sixth place. Switzerland lit up the world stage with upset wins over Canada, Japan and Panama before claiming third place overall with a 41-35 victory over number two seed Mexico.
