Updates

The International Federation of American Football (IFAF) has today confirmed plans to stage its 2023 Congress in the federation’s home city of Paris, France in the second half of next year.

The agenda for the Congress is set to include a vote to add a representative of the NFL to the IFAF Executive Board in a non-voting role.

The proposal was approved by the IFAF Board ahead of the start of the 2022 IF Forum in Lausanne, where IFAF will be represented by President Pierre Trochet and Managing Director Andy Fuller. The NFL’s Head of Europe Brett Gosper is also among the delegates.

If passed, the motion would represent an unprecedented development in the strategic alignment of the sport’s international federation and its primary professional league.

It comes as the two organizations increase their collaboration in the area of American football’s international development, spearheaded by the rapid growth of the flag football format as well as the sport’s candidacy for major multi-sport Games.

The proposal forms part of a wider IFAF statutes review, undertaken with the support of legal advisors from Earvin & Lew – the federation’s French-based law firm – in consultation with a wide range of stakeholders including the International Olympic Committee.

This year’s IFAF Congress, held alongside flag football’s debut appearance at The World Games in Birmingham, Alabama in July, approved motions to strengthen IFAF governance via increased gender representation and commitment to sustainable practices.

Next year’s votes will conclude a rigorous two-year process, which has looked at areas ranging from ethics and integrity to membership, financial management and organizational structures.

IFAF President Pierre Trochet said: “We’re delighted to be bringing the IFAF Congress ‘home’ to Paris in 2023. This will be the most important edition in our federation’s history – the culmination of a significant period of governance reform and strategic development.

“The motion to add NFL representation to our board reflects the impact of our partnership, underpinned by shared values and the goal to drive our sport’s growth all around the world.

“In this sense, Paris will provide a fitting stage as a city at the heart of global sport over the coming years.”

In total, 72 member federations are set to gather for the Congress, with a number of nations across the Central and South America and South-East Asia regions expected to seek the upgraded Associate Member status in 2023.

IFAF has been headquartered in Paris, host of the next Olympic and Paralympic Games, since its formal establishment in 1998.