IFAF to relocate global headquarters to Lausanne, strengthening ties with the Olympic Capital

The International Federation of American Football (IFAF) has voted to relocate its global headquarters to Lausanne, Switzerland, marking a major milestone for the sport of American Football, which reinforces its long-term commitment to the Olympic Movement.

The decision was taken as part of a series of landmark reforms approved at the XXVII IFAF Congress, held in the Olympic Capital with support from the Lausanne Olympic Capital Foundation and Lausanne Tourism.

Delegates from five continents, representing a broad spectrum of IFAF’s 75 member federations, came together in Lausanne to celebrate a record-breaking year for the sport and vote on important governance reforms designed to strengthen IFAF’s governance structures, advance gender equality within the sport’s leadership, and broaden access to membership.

More than 25 years after IFAF was founded in Paris, France, the relocation of the federation’s headquarters to Lausanne places it at the heart of global sport governance and deepens its integration within the Olympic Movement.

The move comes at a pivotal moment in the federation’s history, with the flag football discipline building extraordinary global momentum ahead of a debut Olympic Games appearance in Los Angeles 2028.

IFAF joins nearly 60 other international sports federations and organisations headquartered in the State of Vaud, whose capital, Lausanne, is widely recognised as the epicentre of the global sports movement and has been home to the International Olympic Committee since 1915.

IFAF President Pierre Trochet said: “This vote is a clear statement that IFAF - and our global American football family - believes its future belongs at the heart of the Olympic Movement. Relocating our headquarters to Lausanne and the Maison du Sport International marks an important milestone for our sport and strengthens the foundations we are building ahead of LA28 and beyond.”

Émilie Moeschler, Municipal Councillor of the City of Lausanne, Department of Sports and Social Cohesion, said: “The City of Lausanne is proud to welcome the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) and we commend the work of the Olympic Capital Foundation, which has closely partnered with IFAF over the past years to support their needs, including this important move to Lausanne. The sport also has strong local roots, with clubs such as the Lausanne Owls and LUCAF actively promoting both American and flag football within our community. We look forward to supporting IFAF in this next chapter of its development and to building a strong and lasting partnership with them.”

Christelle Luisier Brodard, State Councillor of the Canton of Vaud - Head of the Department of Finance, Territory, and Sport, said: “We are delighted to welcome the International Federation of American Football (IFAF). The innovative inclusion of one of its disciplines, flag football, in the program of the Los Angeles 2028 Games marks a decisive turning point for this rapidly growing sport. By establishing its headquarters in Lausanne, IFAF strengthens the major role of the Canton of Vaud in the global sports landscape, as it is home to nearly 60 international federations and organizations - a unique ecosystem that IFAF can leverage to drive its growth.”

In addition to the headquarters relocation, the IFAF Congress approved new gender-equality initiatives in IFAF Statutes, reinforcing the federation’s commitment to advancing greater female representation in the sport’s leadership roles.

Members also supported changes to membership criteria, removing the requirement for full members of IFAF to operate both tackle and flag football programmes. The move reflects the explosive global popularity of flag - the more accessible, Olympic discipline - and is expected to support continued growth in emerging nations.