Brady’s Flag Football Classic Relocates from Saudi Arabia to Los Angeles

Tom Brady's inaugural Fanatics Flag Football Classic has been moved from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to Los Angeles due to ongoing Middle East conflicts and travel concerns. The March 21 event will feature NFL stars competing at BMO Stadium, the future home of Olympic flag football in 2028.

The debut Fanatics Flag Football Classic featuring Tom Brady has relocated from its original Middle East venue to California, organizers announced. The March 21 competition will now take place at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles rather than the previously planned Kingdom Arena in Riyadh.

Event organizers cited ongoing conflicts in Iran and current travel warnings as reasons for the international venue change. The new Los Angeles location holds special significance as BMO Stadium is set to host flag football when the sport joins the Olympic program during the 2028 Summer Games.

The retired quarterback Brady, who captured seven Super Bowl championships, will make his first official comeback to competitive play since stepping away from the NFL in 2023. He’ll team up with Jalen Hurts as co-captains of the Founders FFC team, with Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton leading their sideline.

Their opponents, the Wildcats FFC, will be captained by rookie sensation Jayden Daniels alongside Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow, with San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan calling the plays.

Both captains will select 12-player rosters from a star-studded pool that features running back Saquon Barkley, defensive end Myles Garrett, receiver Odell Beckham Jr., tight end Rob Gronkowski, and social media personality Logan Paul. Hall of Fame quarterbacks Drew Brees and Larry Fitzgerald will oversee the competition as commissioners.

A third squad consisting entirely of USA Football athletes will also participate, giving fans a unique opportunity to watch elite flag football specialists compete against professional tackle football players. Team USA will be led by co-captains Aamir Brown and Darrell “Housh” Doucette, with Jorge Cascudo serving as head coach.

Competition will follow adapted Olympic flag football regulations on a compact 50-by-25 yard field. Each game consists of two 15-minute periods with continuous clock operation. The three teams will compete in round-robin format, with the top two advancing to a championship finale.

Fanatics Studios will produce the event for broadcast on FOX Sports, FOX One, and streaming platform Tubi.

“This event features our world champion flag football athletes on the same field as some of the top current and former pro tackle stars, and I know our players are up for the challenge,” USA Football CEO and executive director Scott Hallenbeck stated.