The International Federation of American Football (IFAF) has signed a landmark multi-year global broadcast partnership with sports streaming platform DAZN, in a move set to significantly accelerate the worldwide growth of American football and flag football ahead of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
The agreement will make DAZN the exclusive global streaming home for a broad portfolio of IFAF competitions across more than 200 territories, with selected events available free-to-view. The partnership marks the federation’s first worldwide media rights deal and represents a major commercial milestone as flag football continues its rapid international expansion.
Under the deal, DAZN will broadcast key IFAF events, including the Flag Football World Championships, continental championships, and a range of senior and youth international competitions.
Shay Segev, DAZN Group CEO, said, “DAZN has a proven track record of taking major US sports to fans around the world to accelerate their international growth. Our technology, multi-platform distribution, and ability to cross-promote with our extensive premium sports portfolio will accelerate flag football’s global reach and visibility. By delivering IFAF events free-to-view on DAZN, we can introduce new audiences to an exciting sport at a pivotal moment in its global development.”
Pierre Trochet, IFAF President, added, “This unprecedented deal is a landmark for IFAF as we enter a new phase of commercial maturation, harnessing the explosive worldwide interest in flag football ahead of our sport’s Olympic debut. DAZN is a partner who can help us attract and engage new fans around our events by making them available – free of charge – to millions around the world. This is also great news for existing fans of IFAF competitions, who can now watch on a platform that most of them already know and love as the home of American football outside the US.”
The timing of the partnership reflects the accelerating momentum behind flag football globally. Grassroots participation continues to rise rapidly, while the number of national teams within the IFAF ranking system has increased by 48% over the past three years. The sport also emerged as a standout digital performer at The World Games 2025 in China, generating 23% of total streaming watch time across all sports on the programme.
For DAZN, the deal further strengthens its growing American football portfolio, which already includes rights agreements across multiple football properties as the platform continues expanding its global OTT sports ecosystem.
Commercially, the partnership positions IFAF to capitalise on growing sponsor interest, increased media exposure, and rising fan engagement in the lead-up to LA28, where flag football is expected to receive its biggest global spotlight to date.
