U.S., MEXICO RENEW RIVALRY AT SUPER BOWL AS OLYMPIC FLAG FOOTBALL TAKES CENTER STAGE
- USA vs. Mexico Flag Football Showcase presented by Toyota unites top men’s teams from the Americas for exhibition –
- Flag football’s reigning Continental Co-Champions meet for first time since 2023 as LA28 countdown intensifies -
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF. – Two of the world’s top flag football powers are set to meet again on one of the sport’s biggest stages. On Thursday, Feb. 5, USA Football’s and the Federación Mexicana de Fútbol Americano’s (FMFA) men’s national teams collide in the USA vs. Mexico Flag Football Showcase presented by Toyota. The exhibition between the two historic programs will be held at the Super Bowl Experience in San Francisco, Calif.
Despite their history of hard-fought gold medal games, the two premier men’s programs haven’t faced off since 2023. That changes when the rivalry renews at the Super Bowl LX Flag Fieldhouse in the Moscone Center at 4 p.m. PT. The game will be streamed live on the NFL’s YouTube channel and available on-demand on NFL+. Tickets to the game are included in Super Bowl Experience admission on Feb. 5 for $40 (kids 12 and under are free).
The stage keeps getting bigger for flag football as the sport prepares for its Olympic debut in Los Angeles in 2028. When the Bay Area becomes the epicenter of the football world for Super Bowl LX, two of the sport’s most decorated programs will give fans a preview of the game’s creative and dynamic 5-on-5 style used for international competitions, including the Olympics.
“We are grateful to the NFL for providing USA Football and FMFA with this platform at the Super Bowl Experience to showcase one of the world’s fastest growing sports,” said USA Football CEO Scott Hallenbeck. “The Olympic announcement in 2023 was rocket fuel for a sport that was already surging in popularity, and with the league’s leadership and support through opportunities like this exhibition, we’ll ignite even more passion, participation and fandom. As we build toward the 2028 Olympics, USA Football will host additional matches against top programs from around the world to create more opportunities for fans to experience world-class international flag football.”
Being the Presenting Partner of this global showdown builds upon Toyota's national and local support of the sport's growth through NFL Flag. Toyota supports 1,800 local leagues and 750,000 youth athletes nationwide through its 1,200 U.S. dealers. Toyota will continue to celebrate youth athletes during Super Bowl LX week through the NFL FLAG Players of the Year Presented by Toyota Award, honoring standout young female and male FLAG athletes at NFL Honors on February 5, 2026.
The U.S. currently sits atop the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) World Rankings, while Mexico ranks third. The two programs were scheduled to clash in Penonomé, Panama, earlier this fall at the 2025 IFAF Americas Continental Championship, but inclement weather canceled the gold medal game. IFAF declared the U.S. and Mexico Continental Co-Champions.
“We are very happy for this opportunity given to us by the NFL and USA Football, as it not only gives our athletes the chance to compete at a high level, but also allows us to get on the map globally and promote this sport, which has experienced rapid growth worldwide,” said César Barrera, president of the Mexican Federation of American Football.
The championship would have been the third time the U.S. Men’s National Team and Team Mexico met in a gold medal game over the past five years. The U.S. defeated Mexico 44-41 in the finals of the 2021 IFAF Flag Football World Championship in Jerusalem, Israel, and 40-36 at the 2023 IFAF Americas Continental Championship in Charlotte, N.C. Now, they’re ready to go head-to-head again.
Flag football’s global popularity is exploding as organizations, including USA Football, lead the creation of more opportunities for athletes to develop and compete at elite international levels. The NFL clubs voting at their Spring League Meeting to allow the participation of NFL players in flag football at the Olympics brought even more attention to the sport.
As the National Governing Body of American football, USA Football will select, train and lead the men’s and women’s teams representing the U.S. in the Olympics.
“The opportunity to have NFL players join our elite talent pathway leading up to the LA28 Olympics is exciting for athletes and fans alike,” added Hallenbeck. “We have one goal for the Olympics, and that’s to win the men’s and women’s gold medals. Support and interest from elite athletes across the sports world only strengthen our chances of success as we seek to build the best teams possible.”
Led by quarterback Darrell “Housh” Doucette III, the U.S. Men’s National Team went 5-0 in Panama this past fall, outscoring opponents 258 to 65. The +193 point differential was the best in the tournament. The team hasn’t suffered a loss in IFAF-sanctioned play since Doucette joined the program in 2021, going 31-0 during that span. In 2026, the U.S. Men’s National Team will compete for its sixth consecutive IFAF Flag Football World Championship in Düsseldorf, Germany.
“This matchup is overdue. Our guys want it, and I’m sure Team Mexico does too. Competing at the Super Bowl Experience is a great chance to put a bow on our season and turn the page toward the 2026 World Championships,” said Doucette. “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.”
"This opportunity that both teams are going to have is incredible," said Mexican national team defensive back and captain, Ramón Alonso Gaxiola, who recorded four interceptions throughout the 2025 IFAF Americas Continental Championship. "The Mexican American Football Federation and USA Football made a great effort to make this match happen, which we had been eager to play in Panama, but the weather prevented us from doing so. Playing a final is something we have always dreamed of."
Flag football’s rapid growth is evolving the sport’s international landscape. IFAF hosted a record 32 men’s and 23 women’s national teams from six continents at the 2024 IFAF Flag Football World Championships in Lahti, Finland. The introduction of USA Football’s International Bowl and Junior International Cup in Los Angeles and IFAF’s Continental Championships has greatly expanded the structure and development of international competition.
The Junior International Cup is an annual tournament held by USA Football that features the best 15U and 17U girls’ and boys’ national teams from around the world. This past summer in Los Angeles was the largest competition in the event’s history as teams from Australia, Canada, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Panama and South Korea attended.
Flag football is also taking off in the U.S. According to USA Football research, more than 1.7 million athletes ages 6 to 17 played the sport in 2024. Women and girls are driving the sport’s growth. The number of girls ages 6-17 playing flag football has increased 57.1% since 2015.
Flag football is a sanctioned high school varsity sport for girls in more than a dozen states — including California — and many more are operating pilot programs. At the college level, the NAIA and NJCAA offer scholarships in women’s flag football and host national championships. The NCAA is considering flag football for a spot in its Emerging Sports for Women program and offers scholarship opportunities.
Assets for use – Please courtesy USA Football:
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USA Football logos for editorial use are available at this link.
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FMFA logos for editorial use are available at this link.
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Flag Football Showcase logos for editorial use are available at this link.
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USA Football’s 2025 U.S. National Team Media Guide.
U.S. Men’s National Team IFAF Continental Championship Recap
Game No. 1: U.S. 66, Guatemala 7
Game No. 2: U.S. 62, Colombia 13
Game No. 3: U.S. 44, Brazil 7
Game No. 4: U.S. 54, Canada 26
Semifinal: U.S. 32, Panama 12
Final: Canceled – Declared Co-Champions
Team Mexico Men’s IFAF Continental Championship Recap
Game No. 1: Mexico 54, El Salvador 0
Game No. 2: Mexico 54, Argentina 27
Game No. 3: Mexico 64, Jamaica 18
Game No. 4: Mexico 52, Chile 6
Game No. 5: Mexico 40, Panama 34
Semifinal: Mexico 35, Canada 25
Final: Canceled – Declared Co-Champions
U.S. Men’s National Team Roster
Name; Position; Hometown (Current Residence)
Aamir Brown; DB/WR; Philadelphia, Pa. (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Velton Brown Jr.; WR/DB; Orlando, Fla. (Orlando, Fla.)
Isaiah Calhoun; DB/WR; Riverside, Calif. (Plano, Texas)
Nico Casares; QB; Miami, Fla. (Miami, Fla.)
Mike Daniels; DB/WR; Miami, Fla. (Miami, Fla.)
Laval Davis; WR/Rush; Jacksonville, Fla. (Jacksonville, Fla.)
Tyler Davis; WR/DB; Oakland, Calif. (Austin, Texas)
Darrell “Housh” Doucette III; QB/ATH; New Orleans, La. (New Orleans, La.)
Ja'Deion High; WR/DB; Hereford, Texas (Lubbock, Texas)
Jamie Kennedy; DB/WR; Pompano Beach, Fla. (Jacksonville, Fla.)
Laderrick “Pablo” Smith; WR/QB; Pompano Beach, Fla. (Goodyear, Ariz.)
Shawn Theard Jr.; Rush/WR; New Orleans, La. (New Orleans, La.)
Head Coach: Jorge Cascudo; Miami, Fla. (Miami, Fla.)
Assistant Coach/Offensive Coordinator: Willy Perez; Hialeah, Fla. (Baldwin City, Kan.)
Assistant Coach/Defensive Coordinator: Rudy Fernandez; Miami, Fla. (Las Vegas, Nev.)
Team Mexico Men’s Roster
Name; Position; Hometown (Current Residence)
Cristopher Bryan Cardona Padron; WR; Mexico City (Mexico City)
Diego Velasco Perez; Rush; Mexico City (Guadalajara)
Diego Rodolfo Perez Arvizu; QB; Mexico City (Mexico City)
Ricardo Corona Placeres; DB; Mexico City (Puebla)
Ramon Alonso Gaxiola Muñiz; DB; Mexico City (Mexico City)
Victor Emmanuel Balderramos Sanchez; QB; State of Mexico (State of Mexico)
Luis Alberto Villegas Gonzalez; C; State of Mexico (State of Mexico)
Eduardo Ortega Velez; WR; Mexico City (Monterrey)
Guillermo Alberto Villalobos Zanabria; WR; Mexico City (Quintana Roo)
Santiago Vargas Rodriguez; DB; Mexico City (Mexico City)
Javier Alberto Vivian Quintero; ATH; Sonora (Mexico City)
Said Eduardo Rios Garcia; ATH; Mexico City (Mexico City)
Head Coach: Fernando Alfaro Espinoza; State of Mexico (State of Mexico)
Assistant Coach: Maria Eugenia Huerta Castañeda; Mexico City (Mexico City)
Assistant Coach: Rodrigo Romero Colchado; State of Mexico (State of Mexico)
About USA Football: USA Football is the National Governing Body (NGB) for American Football in the United States and the sole U.S. member of the International Federation of American Football (IFAF), the international governing body for the sport of American football. USA Football selects, trains and leads Team USA Football® in tackle and flag football disciplines, while delivering world-class football development resources, sport standards and competitive opportunities to empower athletes at every level. USA Football is committed to ensuring every athlete has access to develop and compete in the game through safer, inclusive and innovative pathways. For more information, visit usafootball.com.