Team USA is set to clash with Mexico in a flag football exhibition during Super Bowl week in San Francisco. This event will take place at the Moscone Center, which is also hosting the Super Bowl experience fan fest.
The matchup will occur on February 3 as part of the Pro Bowl festivities, with the two national teams scheduled to compete two days later. This exhibition game is a significant step as both teams prepare for the upcoming Olympics in Los Angeles.
USA Football, the governing body for the sport in the United States, is responsible for selecting and training both men”s and women”s teams leading up to the Olympics. Scott Hallenbeck, the CEO of USA Football, expressed enthusiasm about the potential involvement of NFL players in the flag football teams. “The opportunity to have NFL players join our elite talent pathway leading up to the LA28 Olympics is exciting for athletes and fans alike,” he stated. The game will be available for streaming on the NFL”s YouTube channel.
The Pro Bowl festivities have shifted to coincide with Super Bowl week this season. This change reflects a broader adaptation of the all-star event, which transitioned to a flag football format three years ago. Notably, flag football was officially included in the Olympic program in October 2023.
While the game against Mexico is labeled a “friendly,” players are expected to approach it with the seriousness of a Super Bowl competition. The two teams were deprived of a gold-medal showdown at the IFAF Americas Continental Championship in Panama last September due to severe weather conditions.
Quarterback Darrell “Housh” Doucette III remarked, “This matchup is overdue. Our guys want it, and I”m sure Team Mexico does, too. We plan to approach this exhibition with the same preparation and intensity as a regular game. This is a dream opportunity to showcase the sport we all love while at the center of football”s biggest stage.”
Ramon Alonso Gaxiola, a defensive back and captain for Mexico, added, “This opportunity that both teams are going to have is incredible. Playing a final is something we have always dreamed of.”
The game, presented by Toyota, will serve as an exciting preview of what”s to come in Olympic competition. Hallenbeck noted that the announcement of flag football”s Olympic inclusion has propelled the sport”s popularity and that events like this exhibition will further ignite interest and participation.
Furthermore, NFL owners have recently approved a resolution allowing NFL players to participate in flag football”s Olympic debut in Los Angeles, highlighting the sport”s growing significance within the football community.
