New IFAF flag football world rankings highlight dynamic growth in international competition

Mexico has overtaken USA at the top of the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) women’s flag football world rankings for the first time in history.

The annual world rankings update reflects a year in which the Mexican women’s national team has achieved unprecedented success, notably with its defence of The World Games gold medal in Chengdu, China in August, followed by a first Americas Continental title in Panama in September.

On the men’s side, USA holds strong at the top of a fast-growing pack of contenders, with a record 59 countries now boasting men’s world rankings.

The update comes at the end of a year that saw an unprecedented 101 senior national teams participate in IFAF Continental competition across four events, including the inaugural IFAF African Flag Football Championships held in Cairo, Egypt in June.

Other notable developments include:

• Australia’s men – the 2025 IFAF Asia-Oceania champions – jumping eight places to World No 8 to become the biggest annual movers inside the World Top 20

• China’s women becoming the highest ranked newcomers at World No 18, following a maiden Continental title won at home in Ningbo in October

• 20 men’s teams and 15 women’s teams entering the rankings for the first time in 2025;

• A 48% overall increase (+51% for the men and +45% for the women) in teams holding IFAF World Rankings since 2022 – the year before flag football was confirmed on the programme of the LA28 Olympic Games.

The new global rankings set the scene for flag football’s biggest year yet in 2026 as the world’s best prepare to battle for the new-look IFAF Flag Football World Championship taking place in Düsseldorf, Germany from August 13-16.

The biggest international flag football event before the sport’s Olympic debut will be held in partnership with the NFL, at the home of the New England Patriots in Germany – the Düsseldorf Flag Football Complex.

Just 16 men’s and 16 women’s teams have qualified through the Continental Championships for an event that is expected to form part of the qualification pathway for LA28. As with all the sports on the programme, flag football’s Olympic qualification system is in the final stages of approvals with the International Olympic Committee. An announcement is expected in the coming weeks.

The Groups for the 2026 World Championships, which are determined by the world rankings, were announced on social media on Tuesday by high-profile Global Flag Football Ambassadors including NFL Legends Eli Manning and Drew Brees, NFL EVP of Football Operations Troy Vincent, German New England Patriots icon Sebastian Vollmer and Women’s Football pioneer Liz Sowers. Full details can be found below.

IFAF President, Pierre Trochet said: “These new world rankings aptly reflect another record-breaking year for international flag football, setting the stage for 2026 in the most spectacular way. It’s thrilling to see the new nations, ambition and investment driving competition to new levels as we all look forward to flag football’s Olympic debut in 2028.”

IFAF Director of Competitions Fabio Tortosa said: “This year has been an inflection point for competitive international flag football, with real momentum reflected not only in the expansion of IFAF’s tournament structures but also what we have seen on the field: new countries, new styles, new playbooks, new athletes - all adding up to an exciting elevation in global performance standards.”

Mexico Women’s Quarterback Diana Flores said: “Being ranked number one in the world is an incredible honor for our team and Mexico, a reflection of years of work, sacrifice, and the unbreakable spirit that defines us. As we look ahead to the World Championships in Düsseldorf and ultimately the LA 2028 Olympic Games, we’re more motivated than ever to keep evolving, raising the standard for our sport and representing Mexico with pride.”

GROUPS

Women

Group A: Mexico, Italy, Germany, Slovenia

Group B: USA, Spain, Australia, Nigeria

Group C: Great Britain, Austria, France, China

Group D: Canada, Japan, Panama, Brazil

Men

Group A: USA, Australia, Israel, American Samoa

Group B: Austria, Japan, Canada, Nigeria

Group C: Mexico, Switzerland, Germany, Brazil

Group D: Italy, France, Great Britain, Panama