The US men’s and women’s teams continued their dominance by winning the world flag football championships in Finland on Friday, but other nations are closing the gap as the sport gains momentum ahead of its Olympic debut in 2028.

The US men secured their fifth consecutive title, while the women claimed their third in a row, defeating Austria and Mexico respectively in the finals of the largest world championship to date, with 54 teams from 30 countries competing.

Darrell “Housh” Doucette faced a barrage of online trolls after boldly stating that he and the rest of the USA men’s national flag football team were confident in keeping their roster spots, even if NFL stars aimed to join the squad for the sport’s Olympic debut in 2028.

However, those critics will have to wait, as Doucette threw six touchdown passes to four different receivers, leading the US to a dominant 53-21 victory over Austria, securing an unprecedented fifth consecutive flag football world championship.

“This is our sport – we feel like we are the pros,” Doucette declared at the conclusion of Friday’s final, broadcast from Lahti Stadium in Finland.

Flag football, a non-contact version of American football played by teams of five, was added to the programme for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics in October last year. American football last appeared at the Olympics as a demonstration sport in the 1932 LA Games.

“It’s amazing, not only because of the number of teams but also the talent and level of the sport, so I’m really proud and happy to be part of this experience,” said Mexico’s quarterback Diana Flores, following their final loss in Lahti. Despite the defeat, Flores expressed pride in her team and saw the championship as a stepping stone for the future.

Flores, a prominent figure in the sport who appeared in a commercial aired during the 2023 Super Bowl, is driven by her goal of leading Mexico to the Olympics. “I dream of it every day. It’s a goal. I want to represent my country at the Olympics with my team, and winning an Olympic medal would be amazing,” she said.

Although the sport originated in the US, flag football is gaining popularity globally. The simplified, non-contact version of the game is easier for countries to adopt compared to the NFL’s tackle football. Flores particularly praised Japan, which reached the semi-finals before losing to Mexico. “They’ve grown so much in the past year. They’re fast, smart, and I know they’ll keep improving,” she said.

Flag football is played on a 70×25-yard field without blocking, kicking, or tackling. The play ends when a defender pulls a flag attached to the ball carrier’s waist or when the ball goes out of bounds.