University of Seoul holds youth flag football championship
Flag football players from elementary, middle and high schools pose during the 2026 University of Seoul President’s Cup Youth and Children Flag Football Championship held at the university’s campus in northeastern Seoul, June 6. Courtesy of University of Seoul
Event organized to promote popularization of flag football
The University of Seoul and the Korea American Football Association (KAFA) co-hosted a flag football championship for youth and children at the university’s campus in northeastern Seoul, June 6.
The university said the 2026 University of Seoul President’s Cup Youth and Children Flag Football Championship was organized to promote the development and popularization of flag football.
“American football and flag football are sports that emphasize teamwork and collaboration,” said Won Yong-kul, president of the university. “I hope this championship will provide all participating young athletes with cherished memories and serve as an opportunity for them to take another step forward in their growth.”
“With flag football having been adopted as an official sport for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, we expect significant growth potential for the sport in Korea as well. KAFA has set a goal of developing 1,000 flag football teams nationwide,” said KAFA Managing Director Hong Dong-hyuck.
He added, “We ask the University of Seoul to continue supporting the establishment and expansion of flag football teams in the Seoul metropolitan area by hosting the president’s cup tournament in the future.”
A total of 24 teams participated in the championship, including 10 elementary school teams, six boys’ middle school teams, four girls’ middle and high school teams, and four boys’ high school teams. They engaged in enthusiastic yet friendly competition.
In the elementary school category, Team Perfect (Creation Division) and Dongtan Hawkeyes (Truth Division) won the championship titles.
The Ewoo Middle School Ligers claimed the title in the boys’ middle school category. Gunwi Middle School won in the girls’ middle and high school category. The Dongtan Hawkeyes took the championship trophy in the boys’ high school category.
Since launching the championship in 2011, the university has continued to provide a competition platform where youth flag football players can showcase their skills and develop their abilities.
Flag football uses an oval-shaped ball, similar to American football, and is rapidly gaining popularity worldwide. The game is played by advancing the ball into the opponent’s territory to score, while preventing opponents from pulling out a flag attached to the player's waist.
Traditional American football is a contact sport that involves powerful tackles and blocking, requiring players to wear protective equipment, and its rules are relatively complex.
In contrast, flag football minimizes physical contact, making it a safer sport with simpler rules. These advantages allow people of all ages and genders to enjoy the sport more easily.