Seven teams representing five International Federation of American Football (IFAF) member federations will compete in the first-ever flag football tournament at the IV South American Youth Games Panama 2026 (Juegos Suramericanos de la Juventud) in April.

The participation of Under-17 boys’ and girls’ teams representing Argentina, Brazil, Panama, Uruguay and Venezuela is sanctioned by IFAF as part of a growing number of youth-focused tournaments being held worldwide. The annual IFAF European Youth Flag Football Championships will take place in Italy this year, while 2025 saw youth flag events played on three continents in Austria, China and Panama.

The flag football games will be played at the Emilio Royo Stadium in Panama City from April 17 to 19 as part of the regional multi-sport event organized by ODESUR (Organizacion Deportiva Suramericana), which has 15 member nations. The games are held every four years, consistent with the current Olympic Games format.

Argentina, Brazil, Panama and Uruguay will contest the boys’ U17 tournament while Brazil, Panama and Venezuela will compete in the girls’ U17 category. A double round robin tournament played on the first two days will determine the knockout and finals stages for Sunday, April 19. The full schedule of games will be released next week.

“We are honored to bring flag football to these illustrious youth games for the first time,” said IFAF Director for the Americas Javier L’Episcopo. “We look forward to some very competitive games and exciting action from young players whose dreams of becoming a new generation of Olympic Games athletes start here.”

The first edition of the South American Youth Games  was held in Peru in 2013 then in Santiago, Chile (2017); and Rosario, Argentina (2022). Panama is the fourth games and the first held in Central America.