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Remove items from your saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n Save this article for later<\/p>\n Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime.<\/p>\n Got it<\/p>\n AAA<\/p>\n Hopes of an American invasion on the Brisbane 2032 Olympics have been given a boost, as NFL commissioner Roger Goodell confirmed he had met Games organisers to pitch flag football\u2019s case for inclusion.<\/p>\n Speaking from the Gold Coast, Goodell said he and other NFL and flag football executives had presented their push this week, with the concept to be debuted in Los Angeles 2028.<\/p>\n Goodell said the LA Games would change the future of the sport \u2013 the non-contact iteration of American football \u2013 and accelerate its growth ahead of Brisbane 2032.<\/p>\n He could not say when a decision on inclusion in Brisbane was expected.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s a decision for the organising committee. We\u2019ll wait for when they\u2019re ready to make that decision,\u201d Goodell said, as hundreds of children participated in a free flag football clinic at Cbus Super Stadium.<\/p>\n Related Article \u201cWe think \u201928 is going to be a great success. NFL players have expressed their desire to play. We have competitors both on the men\u2019s and women\u2019s side that are playing incredible flag football on a global basis.\u201d<\/p>\n When asked why flag football should be considered for the Games at the expense of sports such as surf lifesaving or netball, Goodell pointed to Australia\u2019s triumphs at the Flag Football Asia-Oceania Continental Championships, and the success of the Gold Coast-based Asia-Pacific academy.<\/p>\n Seven academy players have garnered division one college offers, with its first graduate Nikau Hepi \u2013 who moved from New Zealand to the Gold Coast \u2013 leaving shortly for midyear intake.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve seen some of the athletes here \u2026 they\u2019re great athletes from this area. I think Australia has a very good chance of getting a medal,\u201d Goddard said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe believe in this market, we believe this is a sporting nation, and we have a tremendous fan base here that\u2019s growing quickly.<\/p>\n \u201cWe had a full opportunity to engage in their process and answer their questions, and present a sport that over 20 million people are playing in a short period of time. By the time we get to 2032, that number will be exponentially higher.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a global game, and we were able to present that and why we think it would be a great opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n Goddard announced flag football kits would be made available in all Australian schools, beginning with in Queensland and Victoria, with nearly 100,000 students across 500 schools participating.<\/p>\n Related Article The kits will include 12 flag belts, three footballs, and NFL Flag curriculum and resources to support teachers introducing the game into their school.<\/p>\n The NFL believes Australia is a long-term growth market for the code, with an in-season fixture between the LA Rams and San Francisco 49ers to take place in Melbourne on September 11.<\/p>\n Goddard stopped short of confirming Brisbane would one day host a clash out of Suncorp Stadium, despite assuring reporters that more games would be played in Australia.<\/p>\n But he said he had visited the facility, and hinted the construction of the Victoria Park venue would strengthen that possibility.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know if we\u2019ve gotten to that point right now. Obviously, they\u2019re talking about the new construction of an Olympic stadium, and that looks like a great opportunity,\u201d Goddard said, while confirming the NFL would continue its investment in Australia beyond the Brisbane Olympics.<\/p>\n \u201cWe had the opportunity to see Suncorp Stadium yesterday [Wednesday] which was a thrill for me, it\u2019s got a lot of history and tradition. We\u2019ll get to that stage at some point, but right now, we\u2019re focused on Melbourne for the first game.\u201d<\/p>\n Global flag football ambassador Kodie Fuller was adamant the rapid growth of the sport indicated \u201ca very bright future\u201d was ahead.<\/p>\n \u201cBeing a Brisbane-born girl, I grew up playing all different sports, and then found flag football a bit later in life. But I\u2019ve seen first-hand the growth of this sport in Australia, and it\u2019s been phenomenal,\u201d Fuller said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt went from having a couple of other women on the field when I first started to now we\u2019ve got hundreds of girls behind me picking up the game and falling in love with it.<\/p>\n \u201cGoing from an unranked nation that had never had a national team, to now having two silver medals for our women and a gold medal for our men, really says a lot about where we are as a country and where we\u2019re going.\u201d<\/p>\n Both Australian teams will compete at the World Championships this August in Germany.<\/p>\n Start the day with a summary of the day\u2019s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n Save<\/p>\n You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/76ac9e889aa77b013e3f65e07e065b8c798bbe660734ead9c11dcc5f3c00f06a.jpeg\")
The NFL has arrived in Queensland: (from left to right) Mexico flag football captain Diana Flores, global flag football ambassador Kodie Fuller, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, Australian women\u2019s star Abbie Leyshon and Australian men\u2019s star Jared Stegman.<\/p>\n![\"Jared](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/6a3973b27df9014d76a356f161d8820506b3249a426535d4d4ffff9da70fd13d.jpeg\")
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NFL Commissioner Roger GoodellGetty Images North America<\/p>\n![\"Joey](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/fadf1796510bc5bb44f19e1c57981fd201492f3c.jpeg\")
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