The smallest and lowest ranked nation that will compete at IFAF World Flag 2026 in Düsseldorf this summer has been busy strengthening its grassroots and high-performance structures with financial support from the IOC’s Olympic Solidarity program.

IFAF Sport Manager Lars Carlsen paid a visit to American Samoa to assist with the proud nation’s Olympic Solidarity-funded American football development program, an initiative focused on building education pathways for coaches and officials in both the tackle and flag disciplines. The visit included meetings with the American Samoa National Olympic Committee (ASNOC), local stakeholders, and holding practical workshops and observing the American Samoa national championships. The squad that will head to Germany in August will be selected from those games.

Financed from broadcast revenues from the Olympic Games, Olympic Solidarity aims to provide assistance to all National Olympic Committees for athlete development programs, in particular those with the greatest need. This assistance is achieved through multi-faceted programs that prioritize athlete development, train coaches and sports administrators, and promote the Olympic values.

“Having someone of Lars’s experience travel all the way to American Samoa to personally observe what we are doing and help and interact with coaches, players and officials is a big deal, especially given his stature within IFAF,” said American Samoa National Olympic Committee General Secretary Vaiala Ethan Lake.

“We have never had anyone of his level come here and it is a big commitment to travel all the way to the middle of the South Pacific Ocean to be here. This visit brings legitimacy to flag football for us.”

Samoans are no strangers to American football, having had many players excel in the NFL, but the islanders have traditionally played tackle football. They live and breathe the sport so 5-on-5 flag football is a natural discipline for a new generation of athletes. There are more than 500 youth tackle football players at five high schools in American Samoa, so with 5,500 high school students on the island of 46,000 people ,more than 9% of all students and more than 1% of the population participate.

A major focus of the visit was the continued growth of flag football in American Samoa as the men’s national team prepares for IFAF World Flag 2026 and aims to secure future Olympic participation. American Samoa is working to expand its certified coaches and officials pools locally to support long-term development.

Flag football was chosen because of its rapid growth, its inclusion in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, and the strategic importance of developing qualified coaches and officials as American Samoa continues to build the sport locally and throughout Oceania. As a developing flag football nation, access to international expertise and education is critical to ensuring sustainable growth and creating pathways for athletes, coaches, and officials.

Lars gave feedback as American Samoa held its flag football nationals which the federation plans to expand next year with more teams expected to enter and travel from the mainland United States. Participants attended planning sessions; meetings; testing drills consisting of three-cone drill, shuttles, high jump, broad jump and the 40-yard dash; tryouts; and played a high school tackle game despite torrential rain.

“Their spirits were very high afterwards and they enjoyed every moment,” said Carlsen. “The feedback we received was that they took it all in and are eager to continue to learn and improve.”

The American Samoa Governor Pula'ali'i Nikolao Pula and Lieutenant Governor HC Pulumataala Ae Ae Jr. attended a dinner to recognize participants, honorees and the American Samoa federation.

“The Olympic Solidarity Program is very helpful and ensures flag football has the potential to be elevated to the same level as (soccer),” added Lake. “This is a sport that like soccer will not be held back by not having access to equipment or our remote location. We also do not compete with soccer because athletes who use their feet play that and athletes who use their hands can play flag football. Flag football now has a real pathway in American Samoa.”

When American Samoa lines in up a challenging Group A against the United States, Australia and Israel in Düsseldorf, expect to see the next step along the flag football pathway in evidence among its determined and proud athletes from Motu o Fiafiaga.