Riyadh is bringing the heat with the first-ever Fanatics Flag Football Classic
NFL legend Tom Brady plans to play alongside the biggest names in football and entertainment in a three-team flag football tournament in Saudi Arabia next year
Riyadh Season 2025/2026 has not even launched yet, but it’s already shaping up to be an exciting one, with a solid line-up of events and activities already announced.
The latest addition to be announced, as per the chairman of the Saudi General Entertainment Authority, Turki Alalshikh’s social media post, is the Fanatics Flag Football Classic, featuring NFL legend Tom Brady alongside the biggest names in football and entertainment.
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The inaugural flag football tournament will take place on Saturday March 21, 2026, at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh.
Here’s what we know about the Fanatics Flag Football Classic.
What is the Fanatics Flag Football Classic?
The Fanatics Flag Football Classic is a first-of-its-kind round-robin tournament featuring three teams of incredible current and legendary professional football players and world-class athletes. The event will feature three teams of eight players facing off in a round-robin tournament, with the top two teams advancing to the championship.
Who will be playing at the Fanatics Flag Football Classic in Riyadh?
Seven-time Super Bowl champion quarterback Brady will be making his first official return to the field since his retirement in 2023.
The part-owner of the NFL Las Vegas Raiders is not the only star signed to the event, with Brady’s former teammate, four-time Super Bowl champion and FOX NFL studio analyst Rob Gronkowski also making his return to football at the event.
Among the participants are running back Saquon Barkley of the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, San Francisco rusher Christian McCaffrey, New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner, Cleveland defensive end Myles Garrett, Las Vegas tight end Brock Bowers and defensive end Maxx Crosby, Miami receiver Tyreek Hill and 10-year NFL receiver Odell Beckham Jr.
Additional players, consisting of professional athletes from other sports and celebrities, will be announced in the coming months.
The teams will be led by three of the best coaches in the NFL: Pete Carroll, Sean Payton, and Kyle Shanahan.
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What is the format of the Fanatics Flag Football Classic?
The games will follow Olympic-style flag football rules, played on a 50-yard field with two 10-yard end zones, featuring teams of five players each. Each half will last 20 minutes. The three teams will feature a balanced mix of athletes and entertainers, and an NFL head coach will also lead each team.
How to watch the Fanatics Flag Football Classic?
The event will be broadcast live on FOX Sports and Tubi, with award-winning actor and comedian Kevin Hart to serve as host.
For fans who are eager to attend and watch the tournament live in the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, unfortunately, ticketing details have yet to be announced. Further details, including special programming, will be released in the coming months. So, watch this space.
Flag football is the fastest-growing sport in the world, with over 20 million players worldwide. It will make its Olympic debut at the Los Angeles games in 2028.
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