Flag football will make its historic debut at The World Games 2022 in Birmingham, Alabama, USA tomorrow, when sixteen of the world’s best men’s and women’s teams line up at Birmingham’s iconic Legion Field.  It is the first time flag football has been included on the official programme of the global multi-sport event and marks a landmark moment in the development of the popular, inclusive sport as it continues its rapid growth around the world.  Presented by the NFL in partnership with the International Federation of American Football (IFAF), flag football’s inclusion at The World Games comes at a key time for the two organisations, who are working together to drive forward global participation in the modern, non-contact format. Flag is also central to the NFL’s youth participation strategy and the ability to showcase it at The World Games is a huge boost for the sport.    Pierre Trochet, President of IFAF, said: "This is a milestone for flag football and an opportunity to demonstrate that the sport belongs on a global stage. Every player here in Birmingham is a world-class athlete.   “The Games will allow new audiences to discover just how exciting, competitive and international flag football is at the highest level. It will also be a chance for us to show how well flag fits in a multi-sport environment - and everything we can bring to the Games, on and off the field, as a sports and entertainment concept."  Diana Flores, Member of the IFAF Athletes’ Commission and the Mexican Women’s Flag Football Team, added: "It's so exciting to finally be here at The World Games. The athletes can't wait to show the world what we can do. Flag football is one of the fastest-growing sports in Mexico. It has a huge fanbase and I am certain even more people will fall in love with flag in Birmingham.   “It's the fastest and most creative format of the game. Personally, I fell in love with flag because of the opportunity it gives me to express myself - and because it feels so empowering for me as a woman to be playing this sport."  Flag Football at The World Games will run from 10-14 July, with eight men’s and eight women’s teams competing to take home the sport’s first gold medals. In the men’s tournament, reigning world champions USA will take on Mexico, Panama, Italy, France, Austria, Denmark and Germany. While in the women’s draw reigning world champions USA will face Mexico, Austria, Brazil, Panama, Japan, France and Italy.  The games will take place at Legion Field, a stadium with an Olympic connection as the site of the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Football (Soccer) match between USA and Argentina. Teams of five on-field players will go head to head over two fast-paced 20-minute halves to determine the winner. The men’s and women’s draws have been split into two groups of four teams with teams from each group progressing to the playoffs based on rankings on 13 July, before the winners are decided on 14 July.