Recently the rumours became true that flag football will be a new sport played at the 2028 Olympic games in Los Angeles, dream teams, hypotheticals, and discourse has been non stop over the decision, but is it really that good of an idea?
As far as international diversity goes in the NFL, there are currently 106 players across the entire league who represent countries outside of the USA, highlighting the lack of top class talent in the sport. Aside from the fact that a dream team of the best players in the USA assembled to play flag football in the Olympics is exciting and a fun idea, competing on the biggest stage against other nations just doesn't make sense given the divide in talent worldwide.
With Nigeria, Canada, American Samoa, and Australia having the most internationally represented players in the NFL, countries like the UK, Ghana, Ireland, Germany, and many more are very slimy represented, and will be tough to gather teams which can compete anywhere close to the United States. It is also important to note the array of talent over each position is weak even for those nations heavily represented. Nigeria are extremely strong in the offensive and defensive guard positions, as are Australia, and despite having some of the best players in the NFL come from their country, there may be positions they just can't fill.
Unlike basketball and hockey, both sports are represented and played on a universal scale and have the ability to compete with the big nations. Basketball has seen those like Germany, Canada, and even African and Balkan nations like Sudan and Serbia compete at the highest level, hockey similar to Sweden, Finland, and Russia who have all taken down those dominant nations like the USA and Canada, but football is different. With such a heavily dominant field of players in the USA alone, no team despite how good some of their players are just won't be able to compete. With the best guards, best quarterbacks, the best receivers, the list goes on, it is just hard to see any competition for the USA.
Although the sport has fans across the world, from every continent, it is not an easy game, and despite being played in flag form, it is still not practical. Almost every sport in the Olympics has different winners, and lots of competition, but football in 2028 just won't make sense. Putting in a sport so heavily dominated, with not enough competition will make it boring and a let down for the fans, and the integrity of flag football in the Olympics may be at risk from the get go.
But as things go on, and as some of the USA’s best players find a way to represent nations around the world through heritage, it could end up being competitive, but not authentic. With rumours that Kyler Murray and Kyle Hamilton could both represent South Korea at the 2028 Olympics, the pride and authenticity of winning gold for your home nation just won't be authentic with flag football.
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