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Flag Experience Weekend
The day before the Gold Bowl, the pitch belongs to the fans. At the Fan Flag Tournament on 5 September, anyone aged 10 and up can play — free of charge and with no previous experience. The day after, participants stand on the sideline before kick-off and watch the final from the stands.
Key facts
- What
- Flag Experience Weekend, two bowls in one weekend
- Fan Flag Tournament
- Saturday 5 September, from 11:00 (tournament starts 12:00), 5-on-5 on grass
- Stadium Day
- Sunday 6 September: Sideline Experience and the Gold Bowl at the stadium
- Where — Fan Flag Tournament
- Leichtathletikstadion Duisburg, Margaretenstraße 20, 47055 Duisburg
- Where — Gold Bowl
- Schauinsland-Reisen-Arena Duisburg, Margaretenstraße 5-7, 47055 Duisburg
- Who for
- Anyone aged 10 and up, no experience needed
- Cost
- Free
- Included
- Catering, equipment, crash course, 2 tickets for the Gold Bowl
- What to bring
- Sportswear, shoes for grass, a water bottle, the signed consent form
- Registration
- On this site, closing Thursday 3 September
What it is about
Anyone who has only known football from the stands or the sofa gets the chance to switch sides on the first weekend in September. For the first time, AFLE – The League Europe is putting a tournament of its own alongside the Gold Bowl: the Fan Flag Tournament. Saturday is played five-on-five on grass, and you can register on your own or with friends.
Flag football is the non-contact version of American football: instead of tackling, defenders pull a flag off the belt of the player carrying the ball. That makes the sport accessible to beginners — no protective gear and no prior knowledge required.
So that newcomers can play straight away, the tournament day starts with a short crash course on the most important rules, followed by a joint warm-up and time with the team. Experienced players support the teams as coaches.
The second day belongs to the final. Every active participant receives two tickets for the Gold Bowl: one for themselves and one for a companion. Before kick-off, everyone heads down to the sideline together. (A stadium tour is planned but not yet confirmed — please do not report it as fixed until it is.)
Quotes
“The AFLE is about building a genuine football community across Europe, and our Community Flag Football Tournament is exactly that in action. We want fans of all ages and experience levels to come out, play the game themselves, and then celebrate together with us at the AFLE Gold Bowl the very next day.”
“As a youth flag football coach, I see every week how quickly this sport wins people over. That is exactly why the Flag Experience Weekend is such a special event we are putting on for the community, and for young players in particular — and I look forward to sharing the sport and that enthusiasm with the fans.”
Image material
Photos from the tournament and the stadium are available on request, with credit and cleared for editorial use.
Request image materialPress contact
Fabienne Lampe
Head of Communications
AFLE – The League Europe
press@aflepro.com
About the AFLE
The AFLE (American Football League Europe) is a newly established professional football league dedicated to building a sustainable, team-driven competition across Europe. Headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, and Hamburg, Germany, the league operates as an association in Vienna, Austria, owned and governed by its participating teams.
Founded on principles of transparency, collaboration, and long-term development, the AFLE was created to provide stability and professional structures for European football after years of uncertainty across the landscape.
The league’s inaugural season kicked off on May 23, 2026, and will run through the summer, concluding with the AFLE Gold Bowl on September 6, 2026.
The first season features eight franchises from across Europe: Rhein Fire and Berlin Thunder from Germany, the Vienna Vikings from Austria, the Wroclaw Panthers from Poland, the Alpine Rams from Switzerland, the Paris Lights from France, the Firenze Red Lions from Italy, and the London Warriors from the United Kingdom. Together, these teams represent a broad and diverse European football landscape.
The AFLE aims to connect fans across borders and establish a truly international competition platform that brings together established football markets and ambitious new projects.
Backed by long-term private investment, the AFLE focuses on responsible growth, modern governance, and strong media engagement. The league works closely with clubs, players, officials, and partners to develop football sustainably for the next generation.
The league’s mission is to create a trusted home for European football, built on stability, professionalism, and community.