NEWYou can now listen to Pakinomist articles!
The FIFA World Cup currently dominates the sporting landscape across America, but another soccer movement is beginning to take shape.
With the 2028 Summer Olympics on the horizon, flag football is quickly emerging as one of the most anticipated additions to the Games.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell recently shared his excitement about the tournament, revealing that many players are eager to represent their countries on the Olympic stage.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON Pakinomist
I’ve had a lot of players say, ‘We want to be in it,'” Goodell told ESPN’s “Women’s Sports Now” last Thursday.
“These players are competitors and they love the big stage. To win a gold medal or any medal is something I think they will all appreciate. They talk about it all the time.”
Goodell added, “So I absolutely believe we’re going to have players going to the Olympics.”
BILLS QB JOSH ALLEN DEFENDS STYLE OF PLAY, FEELS NO PRESSURE TO WIN SUPER BOWL
Josh Allen, the 2024 NFL MVP, suggested counting him in the group of active NFL players interested in representing the United States in the Summer Games in two years.
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) warms up before the first quarter of an NFL football AFC Wild Card playoff game Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Jacksonville, Florida. (Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Allen acknowledged that watching flag football has given him an appreciation for the unique challenges the sport presents.
“I always thought it would be really cool to compete for my country. Now, if I have the skills, it’s a different story. I watched (flag football) not too long ago when it was on TV. Those guys just move a little bit different, their hips dip a foot and they’re able to dodge. I can throw with the best of them. But I’m better at running around with them usually.
Allen said getting the chance to compete for gold and play for Team USA at the Summer Games would mark a special chapter in his athletic career. “We’ll see, I’d be very honored to do that.”
Goodell said the Olympic calendar creates a natural window for NFL players to participate, with flag football set to be played before training camps open. He expects active players — and possibly recently retired stars — to be in the mix when the sport makes its Olympic debut.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell speaks to the media during the Super Bowl Winning Team Head Coach and MVP Press Conference at the Mandalay Bay North Convention Center on February 12, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE Pakinomist APP
The 2028 Summer Olympics begin in mid-July.
In May 2025, a resolution was introduced to NFL team owners that would allow one player from each NFL roster to compete in the 2028 Games. An exception will be granted for each team’s designated international player representing his home country.
