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The Fanatics Flag Football Classic is actually moving to BMO Stadium in Los Angeles.
The joint venture between Fanatics and OBB Media, Tom Brady and FOX Sports will keep its originally scheduled date of March 21, although it will not play at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia amid ongoing military operations in the Middle East involving the United States, Israel, Iran and others.
BMO Stadium is the host venue for flag football at the 2028 Olympics. And as the move is announced, the format of the event will see Brady back on the field for the first time since his retirement in 2023.
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The Fanatics Flag Football Classic has been moved from Saudi Arabia to Los Angeles, where BMO Stadium will host the first-of-its-kind event. (Fanatics)
Team USA Football will be involved in an expanded format, as a first-of-its-kind competition will include 12-player teams. The first two will consist of current and former NFL stars, while the second will be USA Football’s reigning IFAF Flag Football World Champion men’s national team.
The first team, Founders FFC, will be led by Brady and Philadelphia Eagles star quarterback Jalen Hurts while being coached by Sean Payton of the Denver Broncos. Then the Wildcats FFC will feature Washington Commanders young star Jayden Daniels and savvy Cincinnati Bengals veteran signal caller Joe Burrow, who will be coached by San Francisco 49ers’ Kyle Shanahan.
Robert Saleh, who just took over for the Tennessee Titans, will also serve as a defensive specialist for both teams in the event that will feature some of the best to ever play on an NFL field and some of the most accomplished flag football players in the United States
The US national team is led by Aamir Brown and Darrell “House” Doucette, while being coached by Jorge Cascade.
Making this event more fun is the fact that the Founders FFC and Wildcats FFC will have a draft on March 18th to determine the 12-man teams. They will choose from a 24-player pool that includes the Eagles’ Saquon Barkley, the Cleveland Browns’ Myles Garrett, Super Bowl champion receiver Odell Beckham Jr., former NFL star tight end Rob Gronkowski and WWE superstar Logan Paul.
FILE – Former NFL quarterback Tom Brady looks on the field before an NFL football game between the New Orleans Saints and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Peter Joneleit, File)
The Flag Football Classic also added two members of the Class of 2026 to the Pro Football Hall of Fame – Drew Brees and Larry Fitzgerald. They will act as commissioners for the event.
While the event wanted to start in Saudi Arabia, Brady noted in September 2025 how this was just the start of something he hopes will continue for years to come.
“It’s a multi-year commitment,” Brady explained at the time. “Obviously we’re off to a good start. The first year is kind of where everyone’s attention and energy is. It’s the first time we’ve ever done anything like this, but all the players I’ve talked to are excited to play.
“Obviously with the Olympics coming up in 2028, I think it’s every NFL player’s first exposure to that and I wouldn’t miss being a part of that.”
General view of the stadium during the Leagues Cup Phase One match between Los Angeles FC and CF Pachuca at BMO Stadium on August 1, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Kevork Djansezian – Leagues Cup/MLS)
The Flag Football Classic will air live on FOX Sports, FOX One and Tubi from 4-8:30 PM ET on March 21, while Fanatics will stream the event internationally on their YouTube channel. Actor and comedian Kevin Hart will serve as host for the event, and comedian Druski will provide commentary alongside him.
The games will follow modified Olympic flag football rules, which feature two 15-minute halves with a running clock on a 50-by-25-yard field. It will be five-on-five, with each team facing each other in a round-robin format before the top two teams advance to the championship.
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