Flag football is set to make its Olympic debut at the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 2028, and programs in Tonga and Fiji are encouraging Pacific athletes and coaches to get involved in the game. Photo credit: USA Flag Football.
The upcoming launch of the United States Flag Football program in Tonga and Fiji aims to bring the joy of American Football to the Pacific.
With flag football set to make its Olympic debut at the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 2028, it is hoped the reintroduction of the sport into Tonga and Fiji will pave an alternative pathway for aspiring Pacific athletes.
From August 5-9, the US Embassy in Tonga, will host USA Football Sports Envoy, including head coach of USA Football’s 17U Girls’ Junior National Team Joshua Saunders, along with the team’s assistant coach Nadia Bibbs, a former cornerback and wide receiver for the US Women’s Flag National Team.
Devon Brown, Chargé d’Affaires ad Interim for the US Embassy in Tonga, says the USA Football coaches will offer guidance and knowledge to Tonga’s emerging coaches and youth from various schools in Nuku’alofa and wider Tongatapu, in a series of coach-to-coach and after school youth clinics, at Teufaiva Sport Stadium.
“This program launch comes after the exciting visit of Coach Kalani and Brigham Young University (BYU) Cougars Football coach and player clinics in June 2026,” Devon says.
“Our goal at the Embassy is to promote the launch of American Football and reinvigorate regional coordination between Tonga, Fiji, and Samoa – the byproduct of which is endless opportunities between the US and the Pacific, accessible through sport.”
“Teufaiva Stadium will come alive with all 13 participating schools gathering for a friendly tournament coordinated by the newly trained local coaches and overseen by Joshua and Nadia,” he says.
“I cannot wait to see what sort of talent is unveiled, I have no doubt there will be plenty – it truly is an exciting time for the Embassy, Tonga, and the Pacific.”
The Sports Envoy will leave Tonga for Fiji on August 10 to launch the same program in Nadi and Suva.
Contact NukualofaPD@state.gov or visit the US Embassy in Tonga for more information on the Sports Envoy program in Tonga.