USA FOOTBALL AND HOUSTON TEXANS TO HOST FLAG FOOTBALL TALENT ID CAMP FOR NATIONAL TEAM AND OLYMPIC HOPEFULS

First Adult Talent ID Camp of 2026 cycle to feature elite collection of talent from across the sports world competing for invitation to Team USA Football® trials  

HOUSTON, TEXAS – On Sunday, Dec. 7, USA Football, in collaboration with the Houston Texans, will host a USA Football Talent ID Camp at Farm League Park in Spring, Texas. Presented by Under Armour, the event will be the first of the 2026 cycle to feature both youth and adult athletes aspiring to represent the United States in international competition.  

Talent ID Camps—part of USA Football’s National Team Development Program—are designed to help the sport’s National Governing Body identify and develop the best flag football talent across the country as the sport grows worldwide and prepares for its debut at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.  

“USA Football is thrilled to partner with the Texans to host our most extensive Talent ID Camp of this cycle yet,” said USA Football CEO Scott Hallenbeck. “We are leaving no stone unturned in our efforts to identify those capable of representing our country on the world’s stage. This is the next step in the football journeys of college athletes, tackle football players, Junior National Team alumni and talent transfers from other sports who plan to show us why they belong at U.S. National Team Trials.” 

USA Football personnel will be on-site to evaluate top performing athletes for opportunities to compete at the national and international levels. Talent ID Camp participants are eligible to receive invitations to attend U.S. National Team Trials in the men’s, women’s, 15U or 17U divisions.  

Team USA Football® will compete in the 2026 International Federation of American Football (IFAF) Flag Football World Championship in Düsseldorf, Germany, this coming year. The men’s and women’s teams have both claimed gold at each of the last three world championships.  

The 15U and 17U Boy’s and Girls’ National Teams will face opponents from around the world at USA Football’s annual Junior International Cup in Los Angeles this summer. Across the event’s history, teams from Australia, Canada, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Panama, South Korea and the United States have competed in one of the world’s fastest-growing sports.  

During the one-day Talent ID Camp, athletes will showcase their talents through combine testing; 1v1 and 2v3 competitions and drills; and Olympic-style 5v5 scrimmages and situational play. Participants will receive elite coaching and feedback to refine their skills and help develop the tools to one day represent the U.S. in international competitions.  

Media are welcome to RSVP to attend for a front row seat to preview what could be the next generation of elite flag athletes. Media interested in attending and/or interview opportunities should contact Ryan Anderson from USA Football. 

As football’s National Governing Body, USA Football selects, trains and leads Team USA Football® in international competition, including world championships and the Olympics. Key USA Football personnel will be on-site and available for interviews as they evaluate top performing athletes for opportunities with the Select Teams and Junior National Teams. 

Flag football’s popularity is exploding in the U.S. According to USA Football research, the number of boys and girls ages 6-17 playing flag football increased 37% from 2015-24, reaching a peak of more than 1.74 million this past year. 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.  
 
The sport is also taking off among adults. At the collegiate level, the NCAA is considering women’s flag football for its Emerging Sports for Women program, and the NAIA hosts a national championship featuring star-studded programs with current Team USA Football® athletes. The NFL plans to launch men’s and women’s professional flag football leagues in the future.  

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.