Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority chief, Turki Alalshikh, announced that Riyadh Season 2026 will host the Fanatics Flag Football Classic on March 21, 2026, at Kingdom Arena. The global event will mark Tom Brady’s first official return to the field since his 2023 retirement, and will be broadcast live on FOX Sports and streamed on Tubi, with Kevin Hart providing live coverage.
The inaugural tournament will feature a round-robin format with three teams of eight, coached by Pete Carroll, Sean Payton, and Kyle Shanahan. Confirmed NFL stars include Saquon Barkley, Christian McCaffrey, CeeDee Lamb, Sauce Gardner, Brock Bowers, Maxx Crosby, Myles Garrett, Tyreek Hill, Odell Beckham Jr., and Rob Gronkowski, with more names from sports and entertainment to follow. Games will be played under Olympic flag football rules (5-on-5, two 20-minute halves, 50-yard field).
Flag football, played by over 20 million athletes worldwide, is the world’s fastest-growing sport and will debut at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The Riyadh event, Alalshikh said, will be the biggest showcase of its kind, combining Brady’s seven Super Bowl legacy with Fanatics’ global reach. Brady added, “I’m excited to return to competition, unite with some of the game’s greatest, and bring fans an unforgettable event. I’m coming back for the trophy.”
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