Iconic trophy designed to celebrate the IFAF World Flag Champions

The IFAF World Flag 2026 trophy presentation will be a memorable moment in flag football history this summer in Düsseldorf.

The men’s and women’s victors will claim the gold medal, secure a guaranteed place at the LA28 Olympic games and be crowned world champions. They will also become the first athletes to lift the iconic new IFAF World Flag Trophy.

Standing almost as tall as the Super Bowl trophy and twice as heavy, the ultimate prize in international flag football depicts a victorious hand holding aloft a ball. A flag wraps around the arm as a symbol of unity, illustrating that flag football brings the sporting community together as one.

The matte aluminium design of the first bespoke IFAF World Flag trophy includes the IFAF logo, which can be seen from all angles, and combines an industrial design that embodies the flag football community's core values.

“Flag football now has a striking world championship that is unique and belongs to our athletes at an inflection point in flag history,” said IFAF President Pierre Trochet. “This will be a recognisable symbol of success and athletes worldwide will aspire to earn the right to lift the ultimate prize in the sport. IFAF is investing in creating the heritage that will inspire future generations.”

In a nod to the origins of the IFAF Flag Football World Championships, which were first held in Austria in 2002, the trophy was designed and created in the south of the country.

The production process began with a computer programme design stitching together elements of the design to create a 3D scan that was the blueprint for a plaster cast. The flag – the key piece of equipment that allows players to tackle opponents – was created in clay, stamped with the IFAF logo and wrapped around an outstretched arm.

A 3D print was produced from a 50-million-pixel scan of the design to create the prototype. Using a process known as lost wax casting, when exposed to the extreme heat of an oven the 3D print burns away to create the trophy mould. The process took place at one of the few non-industrial foundries in Austria located in Styria.

The men’s and women’s trophies are subtly distinguishable from each other by the addition of a four-millimetre thin deep blue (men) and deep red (women) layer of felt to the bottom of the walnut base. The IFAF World Flag trophy measures almost 55 centimetres high and is 5.5 kilos in weight.

On Sunday, August 16, two victorious teams will celebrate with the prestigious prize for the first time at the Düsseldorf Flag Football Complex in Germany.