The Canadian Football League (CFL) has given the green light for its players to participate in flag football at the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles. This decision was announced by the league on Monday after receiving unanimous approval from its board of governors.
Flag football is set to debut at the Olympics in Los Angeles, and the CFL’s approval allows the league to collaborate with the CFL Players’ Association, the International Federation of American Football (IFAF), and Olympic authorities to establish rules for player participation.
While the majority of CFL rosters are composed of Canadians and Americans, the league also boasts 37 global players hailing from 16 different countries. In a similar move, the NFL had previously announced that its players would be allowed to compete in the L.A. Games.
CFL commissioner Stewart Johnston expressed that representing one’s country in elite competition is a significant honor. Despite the Summer Olympics overlapping with the CFL season, the board of governors acknowledged the valuable opportunities presented by competing on the global sports stage.
Johnston stated, “Our exceptional players will have a unique chance to showcase the best of the CFL on an international platform, contributing to the growth of the sport in Canada and worldwide.”
In a step towards Olympic qualification, both the Canadian men’s and women’s flag football teams secured spots at the 2026 world championships, which will take place in Germany next year. Solomon Elimimian, president of the CFL Players’ Association, emphasized the pride in seeing members display their skills and league spirit on an international level.
The Canadian women’s team achieved second place at the IFAF Continental flag football championship in Panama, with the men’s team securing the third spot. The men’s team, under the guidance of former CFL head coach Paul LaPolice, includes Antony Auclair, a former NFL tight end and Super Bowl champion.
Kevin McDonald, the executive director of Football Canada, highlighted the strong high-performance pathways in Canada that have cultivated the talented roster ready to compete internationally. Both Football Canada and the CFL are eager to collaborate in establishing guidelines that will enable CFL players to vie for the opportunity to represent Canada and strive for an Olympic qualification, reflecting an exciting moment for the sport.