Ningbo's flag football tournament expands onto global stage

The 2026 Ningbo Flag Football Open (NBFO) launched on May 28 in Ningbo's Zhenhai district, drawing more than 800 athletes from 60 teams across 29 countries and regions.

The event marks a major step forward for the city's homegrown international sports brand, which is now expanding overseas for the first time.

Teams from Thailand, South Korea, the UAE, Mexico, Australia and Fiji joined the competition, alongside national squads from China, Russia, the Philippines, Spain, and Malaysia.

The tournament features adult men's, adult women's, and youth divisions, with matches taking place at the University of Eastern Institute of Technology, Ningbo, and Ningbo University of Technology.

As an official event of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, flag football has rapidly gained popularity worldwide due to its fast pace, accessibility and appeal among younger generations. This year's NBFO received official recognition and promotion from the International Federation of American Football (IFAF), while global flag football media outlet FFN named Ningbo an "editor's recommended event destination".

During the opening ceremony, organizers announced the launch of NBFO overseas tournaments in Thailand and Spain, making it the first independently developed Chinese flag football event brand to expand internationally.

Local officials said the tournament aims to become a world-class club competition while also boosting youth engagement, sports consumption, and the integration of sports with cultural tourism in Ningbo.