(East Los Angeles, CA) [From The Editor’s Desk]: The Rams are now celebrating and acknowledging the huge achievement for ten qualifying and regionally-based youth Flag Football teams set to compete in the prestigious and, this year, the biggest-ever NFL FLAG Championships starting this week. The cities of Palm Desert, Dana Point, Costa Mesa, Bakersfield, and San Diego are all represented. The teams will also be representing our Los Angeles and Southern California Region with (1) 8-Under team, (3) 10-Under teams, (3) 12-Under teams, (2) 14-Under teams, and (1) 17-Under team in those respective age divisions. 

The Tournament will take place this week, from Thursday, July 23rd through Sunday, July 26th  in the City of Westfield, Indiana. ESPN and streaming outlets will start on Thursday and proceed throughout the tournament. ESPN 2, ABC, NFL Network, and several other highly notable media outlets will also bring their coverage. Click the NFL Flag Events Portal to learn more about their schedules. And, by all means, read on for much more information in the Rams press release that follows our introductory remarks.

Los Angeles Rams Celebrate Local Teams Competing on Global Stage at NFL FLAG Championships

Los Angeles, CA – July 16, 2026 – The NFL FLAG Championships, the largest youth flag football tournament in the world, will bring together the game’s next generation of stars, with 10 teams from Southern California set to compete on the global stage.

This year’s NFL FLAG Championships presented by Toyota will take place on July 23-26 and will feature more than 350 girls and boys teams from across the globe, making it the biggest tournament in the event’s history.

The following teams from the Los Angeles region have earned the opportunity to compete at the NFL FLAG Championships:

• OC Vizion Black, (8U) – Dana Point, CA      

• OC Trojans, (10U) – Costa Mesa, CA

• Flex Premier Elite, (10U) – Palm Desert, CA

• Seals White, (10U) – Costa Mesa, CA

• High Intensity, (12U) – San Diego

• Flex Premier Elite, (12U) – Palm Desert, CA

• Carlsbaddies Select, (12U) – Carlsbad, CA

• All Out, (14U) – Bakersfield, CA

• Conquer 120105, (14U) – Costa Mesa, CA

• Seals, (17U) – Costa Mesa, CA

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For the first time, the tournament will take place in Westfield, Indiana, at the Droplight Grand Park Sports Campus, a premier 400+ acre complex featuring more than 30 multi-purpose fields in the Indianapolis metro area. Families and fans can register for free entry to the NFL FLAG Championships by downloading the NFL OnePass app or visiting NFLFlag.com/championships. Every adult must register, and each registrant may include up to five children per entry.

ESPN will provide live coverage of the tournament, bringing the excitement of youth flag football to fans everywhere. Starting Friday, July 24, through the championship games on Sunday, July 26, games will be available on ESPN, ABC, ESPN2, NFL Network, ESPN Deportes, NFL+ and the ESPN app, with select games also available on Disney+, Disney Channel, Disney XD, and YouTube. Games will also be available in select international markets.

Flag football is one of the fastest-growing sports globally, with approximately 20 million players worldwide. NFL FLAG youth leagues continue to expand access and participation, with more than 830,000 players across over 2,000 leagues nationwide. The sport is now offered at a high school level in 40 states and jurisdictions, and the NCAA has recently taken important steps toward establishing women’s flag football as a championship sport.

Additionally, the NFL is partnering with TMRW Sports to develop and operate a professional flag football league for women and men, with the league expected to launch ahead of the sport’s Olympic debut at the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles.

The Los Angeles Rams are committed to expanding girls and boys flag football into priority communities across the Los Angeles market while increasing opportunities and strengthening the pathway from youth flag football to high school, national teams, and Olympic development opportunities.

Most recently, this spring, the team launched the Rams Community Club Team Initiative to build an accessible and community-rooted girls flag football ecosystem where athletes ages 6–18 can develop their skills, confidence, leadership, and lifelong connection to the game. With support from USA Football and Bridgestone, the program focuses on accessibility, sustainability, culture, and development.

The inaugural season featured seven community clubs consisting of nearly 30 teams, and more than 350 girls flag football student-athletes across Southern California. The Rams also continue to support the development of boys flag football at all levels through the NFL Club Network, partnering with local schools and park and recreations to support flag leagues and supporting high school boys flag football efforts.

This past spring, the Rams hosted the largest NFL Flag Regional amongst all 32 NFL clubs and are excited to see these teams represented at the NFL Flag Championships. The event featured more than 100 teams and 1,000 student-athletes. The Rams’ efforts aim to continue to support and celebrate the athletes, coaches, and communities who are all helping lay the foundation for the growth of flag football throughout Southern California ahead of the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles.

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