Ningbo, China to host IFAF Asia-Oceania Flag Football Championships

The International Federation of American Football (IFAF) has announced that Ningbo, China, will play host to its Asia-Oceania Flag Football Championships from October 23 to 27, 2025.

The championships will be the last stop in IFAF’s Continentals series for 2025, bringing the curtain down on the first season of an expanded, biennial competition as flag football gears up for a debut Olympic Games appearance in 2028.

The Asia-Oceania event will be hosted by the Chinese Rugby and Football Association (CRFA), the governing body of American Football in China, with men’s and women’s competition set to take place over five days at the Fenghua Sports Center in Ningbo.

The event, which will follow continental championships in Cairo (Africa Flag, June 20-21), Panama City (Americas Flag, September 14-17) and Paris (Euro Flag, September 25-27), will serve as a qualifier for the IFAF Flag Football World Championships in 2026.

Japan (women) and Thailand (men) are the reigning Asia-Oceania champions, following their success in Malaysia in 2023.

The Asia-Oceania Flag Football Championships will be the second major international flag football event to be held in China, following the inclusion of women’s flag football in The World Games Chengdu 2025 (August 7 to 17.)

It comes at a time when flag football is developing rapidly throughout China. An estimated 200,000 Chinese teenagers currently play NFL Flag in schools, with 500,000 players overall and plans in place to reach one million participants across China in the next two years.

Meanwhile the CRFA is overseeing a significant scale-up of its high performance programmes in preparation for the new Olympic cycle. Up to 2,000 Chinese athletes and officials have attended talent identification and development events since flag football was added to the LA28 program in 2023.

Wang Yun, CRFA Chairman:

“We are proud to be bringing international flag football to China with this prestigious event. It is the high point of two decades of Chinese flag football, which is now entering a new phase in its development.

“The CRFA is determined to provide a fitting showcase for a sport that is rapidly gaining popularity in our country. The Asia-Oceania Flag Football Championships will also be a key moment for China’s national teams as they take their first steps in IFAF competition, with their long-term goal being to secure qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.”

Pierre Trochet, President of IFAF:

“The first IFAF flag football events in China mark another big step forward for the sport, building on many years of growing momentum. I am grateful to our colleagues at the CRFA for their ongoing and committed partnership. I know we can expect a superb event and I look forward with great anticipation to the performances of China’s inaugural national teams.”

China’s women’s national team will make its debut in IFAF flag football competition as one of eight teams participating at The World Games in Chengdu. The tournament, which also features the seven top-ranked eligible teams from last year’s World Championships, will be streamed at live.worldgames.org from 14 to 16 August.