Nike Signs Three Top Flag Football Federations, Improving Access to Sport Around the World

What to know

• Nike is expanding its longstanding commitment to flag football by signing three leading federations — Canada, Great Britain and Mexico — as they make their way to the world’s biggest stage.
• Each partnership includes Nike’s support for the federation’s flag and tackle football teams across both their national and developmental programs.
• In addition to outfitting the teams, Nike will also work with each federation to inform new football innovations; grow the game; and drive more access and opportunity for the next generation of athletes, especially girls.
• The Mexico men’s flag football team will be the first to debut its Nike uniforms February 5 during the Flag Football Showcase at the Super Bowl Experience in San Francisco.

After years of growing flag football across the United States, Nike is expanding its commitment to the sport globally by signing the Canada, Great Britain and Mexico football federations as they make their way to the world’s biggest stage in 2028.

“This partnership with Nike represents a major step forward for the growth of Football in Canada. Having a leading global sport brand aligned with our vision allows us to accelerate growth at every level – from the grassroots to our nation’s best.” said Kevin McDonald, Executive Director, Football Canada. “As Flag Football prepares to step onto the Olympic stage, our focus remains firmly on building the future of the sport in Canada. This is a unique opportunity to have a lead sport entity like Nike join our team to help inspire the next generation, develop world-class athletes, and contribute meaningfully to a historic moment in sport.”

Each partnership includes Nike’s support of the federation’s women’s flag, men’s flag and tackle football teams across both their national and developmental programs. In addition to outfitting the teams, providing the best football gear to athletes of all ages, Nike will work with each federation to inform new innovations; grow the game; and drive more access and opportunity for all kids, especially girls, who want to play flag football in their country.

This approach reflects Nike’s longstanding, industry-leading commitment to growing flag football for girls and working to close the gender gap in youth athletics. That work will expand globally as part of Nike’s new partnerships, as the brand will work alongside the international football organizations affiliated with the Canada, Great Britain and Mexico federations to build momentum and opportunities for alignment between leagues.

Nike is also committed to listening the voice of the athlete, taking unique product-testing insights from each of its new partner federations and using them to create innovative products specific to flag football that will help improve performance and continue to move the game forward.

“What excites us most is the role flag football can play in opening doors for the next generation of athletes around the world, especially girls who haven’t always had access to the game,” says Ann Miller, EVP, Global Sports Marketing. “By partnering with Mexico, Canada and Great Britain, we’re not just outfitting teams for LA28, we’re investing in the future of football. We’re listening to athletes, we’re innovating with them, and we’re working together to build pathways so every kid who wants to play around the globe has the chance to step onto the field. That’s how the game grows, and that’s what this moment is all about.”

As a rapidly growing sport appearing for the first time on the world’s biggest stage in 2028, flag football provides girls another option to play and compete during a crucial period in their athletic development.

Recognizing this opportunity to help get girls moving, Nike has since 2021 partnered with the NFL on a $5 million grant initiative dedicated to growing girls flag football in U.S. high school athletics. The initiative provides donations of up to $100,000 in Nike innovations — such as uniforms, socks, sports bras and accessories — to state athletic associations that offer girls flag football as a high school sport or pilot program.

Only six states sanctioned flag football as an official school sport when Nike and the NFL first announced the program. Now there are 40 states that have either sanctioned the sport or are in a pilot phase. Nike has outfitted thousands of programs across those states, demonstrating the effectiveness of its efforts alongside the NFL and the meteoric growth of the game.

“Flag football is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world, and its global momentum continues to build as we move toward LA28,” says Troy Vincent, Executive Vice President of Football Operations, NFL. “Nike’s commitment to supporting federations in Mexico, Canada and Great Britain strengthens international pathways for athletes, especially girls, to access the game and develop at the highest levels. Partners like Nike are expanding opportunities and energizing the global flag movement.”

To further fuel that growth, Nike has signed Janasia Wilson and Maci Joncich as its first flag football NIL athletes, ensuring girls see themselves represented at the highest level. The brand has held women’s flag football events with the NFL in the UK and Mexico, inspiring the next generation of female athletes in both countries.

The Mexico men’s flag football team will be the first Nike partner federation to debut its new uniforms February 5 during the Flag Football Showcase at the Super Bowl Experience in San Francisco.