For the first time since 2012, The USA men’s flag football team tasted defeated. Friday, Team USA lose to American Samoa 38-32 in group play at the 2026 IFAF Flag Football World Championships in Dusseldorf, Germany.
Since losing to Austria in the 2012 championship game, the Americans have dominated the sport, winning five consecutive world titles (2014, 2016, 2018, 2021 and 2024), along with gold at the 2022 World Games and other continental honors.
A familiar name leads the upset
Former Maryland quarterback Valuia Tagovailoathe younger brother of Atlanta Falcons NFL quarterback Tua Tagovailoaorchestrated the upset. He completed 29 of 36 passes for 213 yards and five touchdowns.
The game had early momentum swings. The USA scored first, but American Samoa responded with back-to-back touchdowns. The teams traded scores, with American Samoa leading at halftime and extending the advantage in the second half before holding off a late American push.
American Samoa entered the tournament as a heavy underdog – the smallest and lowest-ranked nation making its World Championships debut, representing a territory with a population of around 45,000.
The USA bounced back in its third game in Group A with a 40-7 victory over Australia to finish 2-1 in group play.
American Samoa lost its third game against Israel. The 40-24 loss tied American Samoa at 2-1 in group play to advance to the quarterfinals to be played on Saturday.
This year’s world championships begin the Road to the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles flag football will make its debut. The US men’s and women’s teams have already locked up their berths in LA as the host nation, but the other 30 nations are vying for two men’s and two women’s berths in the 2028 tournaments. This makes Düsseldorf much more than just another international tournament. There will be 10 men’s teams and 10 women’s teams competing for gold in 2028.
