(JNS) — The 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games will feature several sports that appeal to American audiences, including baseball, softball, lacrosse and flag football.

With a thriving American football scene in the Holy Land, the Israeli National Flag Football Teams—men and women—are doing everything they can to qualify for the Olympics. It won’t be easy. With the United States receiving an automatic spot as hosts, only five qualifying spots are available for the rest of the world in each of the six-team tournaments.

Israel’s Mr. Football

For Steve Leibowitz, president of American Football in Israel (AFI), qualifying for the Olympics would be the crowning achievement of his more than four decades of dedication to the sport and the country he deeply loves.

In 1988, Leibowitz co-founded the American Touch Football in Israel (ATFI) league. The ATFI later evolved into a flag football league, now known as the AFI. From its humble beginnings, Leibowitz and his dedicated team have transformed the sport in Israel into a professionally organized program, with thousands of players from across the country, alongside trained coaches and referees.

As the sport continues to grow, AFI is set to reopen the original Kraft Family Stadium in Jerusalem, where there is already another field. “I’m very proud of the new facility we hope to open soon in Jerusalem, which will be dedicated to flag football,” Leibowitz told JNS. “We are also planning to build a facility in Haifa, which would give us three outstanding venues.”

But nothing boosts a sport’s profile like playing on the world’s biggest stage. “Qualifying for the Olympics would be incredible exposure for the sport in Israel. It would provide a huge boost and our players—now Olympians—could promote the sport in ways only that status allows,” Leibowitz explained.

The road to Los Angeles officially begins in Paris, where the 2025 European Championships will take place in late September. That tournament serves as a qualifier for the World Championships, which, in turn, determines Olympic qualification. The better the team performs in the Euros, the better its chances at Worlds—and ultimately, at making it to Los Angeles.

Leibowitz and his team are leaving no stone unturned as they prepare for the European Championships. “We planned to hold an intensive training camp in Los Angeles, but we were unable to attend due to widespread flight cancellations. We’re now exploring alternative preparations for the September tournament,” he said.

Men’s team confident of going far
The men’s team is already close to the top, having finished ninth at the last World Championships in Finland and third at the most recent European Championships in Ireland. Head coach Jonathan Tekac, who made aliyah from Pennsylvania and played college football for the Youngstown State Penguins, is quietly confident in their chances.

“We’re currently ranked eighth in the world, so the margins between us and the top six are very narrow. It all comes down to performance on the day,” Tekac told JNS. “We have the potential to achieve something great, and that’s what’s most exciting.”

Current conditions have affected the team’s preparations, with around 60% of players serving in the Israel Defense Forces, one of the highest percentages among Israeli national teams.

Still, Tekac is pushing forward. “The players have been working hard on strength, conditioning and tactical preparation,” he said. “We’re heading into the European Championships with confidence. We’re doing everything we can not only to compete, but to win.”

Despite the less-than-ideal lead-up to the competition, especially the war against Hamas and Iran, the team refuses to make excuses. Players are studying film, learning the playbook and preparing as best they can.

Women’s team looking to ride wave of enthusiasm
On the women’s side, coach Elyssa Sagoskin is equally enthusiastic about her team’s potential. Sagoskin, a former player, was part of the Israeli squad that won two bronze medals and one silver at European Championships between 2009 and 2012, and another silver in 2017.

“I played on some of those teams and started coaching during that era. This team has a real chance to do something special,” she said. “The level of competition is higher now than it was even in 2017, so the challenge is greater.”

“Athletically, we’re more talented than any of the previous teams, and we have an incredible work ethic. What I love is how this team has embraced the spirit of those earlier teams—the pride in representing Israel. Talent goes far, but when you combine that with a relentless passion to represent your country, that becomes a powerful force.”

Many may not realize that flag football is played in Israel—let alone by women—but this team is part of a growing movement of female athletes gaining attention across various sports.

“Women’s flag football, like all women’s sports, is having a moment—and we’re doing everything we can to make the most of it. We have a core group of driven, motivated female athletes who are not only honored to represent Israel but are also dedicated to growing the sport,” Sagoskin says.

With a much smaller talent pool than the men’s program, the women’s team is working hard to identify new players. Their strategy has three pillars: focusing on local youth development, recruiting top athletes from other sports, and reaching out to talented Jewish players abroad who are open to making aliyah and representing Israel.

Representing Israel, she says, is unlike anything else.
“One of the greatest privileges of making aliyah is the opportunity to represent Israel in international sport,” Sagoskin concluded.

Sagoskin is encouraged by this new generation of players.
“We’re growing the sport, and we have some phenomenal athletes who are determined, passionate, and resilient. They understand that they’re not just representing themselves or the team—they’re also representing the sport, the country, and the whole Jewish people.”

If you or someone you know is interested in joining the team, visit israelflagfootball.com and complete the form.