Tom Brady’s return to a football field was supposed to headline a major international spectacle in Saudi Arabia this March. Instead, rising regional tensions have forced organizers to reconsider their plans. What was meant to be a showcase for the sport’s global expansion has now taken a dramatic turn.
Tom Brady-Led Fanatics Flag Football Classic Relocates From Saudi Arabia to Los Angeles
The highly anticipated Fanatics Flag Football Classic, led by seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady, will no longer take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. According to NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, the event is being moved to Los Angeles, with BMO Stadium emerging as the likely venue. He wrote on X:
“The Fanatics Flag Football Classic featuring Tom Brady and other stars is being moved from Saudi Arabia to Los Angeles, with the likely location being BMO Stadium, which is set to hold flag football in the 2028 Olympics.”
The tournament had originally been scheduled for March 21 at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh as part of the city’s Riyadh Season.
As reported by PFSN’s Nicolaas Ackermann in February, the event was designed to be one of the largest flag football tournaments ever staged and a key effort to grow the sport internationally ahead of its debut at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. However, recent developments in the Middle East have forced organizers to rethink the plan.
The Fanatics Flag Football Classic featuring Tom Brady and other stars is being moved from Saudi Arabia to Los Angeles, with the likely location being BMO Stadium, which is set to hold flag football in the 2028 Olympics. pic.twitter.com/tEcBaWzHXj
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 6, 2026
According to sources familiar with the event, airstrikes and travel restrictions across the region created logistical challenges that ultimately led to the decision to relocate the tournament.
As a result, organizers, including Brady, Fanatics, Fox Sports, and OBB Media, began searching for an alternative venue before settling on Los Angeles.
BMO Stadium, home to MLS club Los Angeles FC and NWSL side Angel City FC, is expected to host the event. The venue sits adjacent to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and is slated to stage flag football during the 2028 Olympic Games.
The move could inadvertently strengthen the event’s connection to the Olympics. The tournament’s rules already align with the officiating standards planned for the 2028 Games, making it a potential preview of how elite players might adapt to the Olympic format.
Brady’s involvement remains the centerpiece of the event. The legendary quarterback partnered with Saudi General Entertainment Authority chairman Turki Alalshikh to launch the tournament last September. At the time, Brady emphasized his excitement about returning to competition.
“[I’m excited to] get the competitive juices flowing alongside some of the game’s brightest stars and iconic legends, and bring a truly unique global sports event to fans everywhere during Riyadh Season,” Brady said, according to PFSN.
The three-team round-robin event will feature several prominent NFL players.
Brady and Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels are expected to lead two of the teams, while other participants include Christian McCaffrey, CeeDee Lamb, Rob Gronkowski, Saquon Barkley, Brock Bowers, Myles Garrett, Sauce Gardner, Odell Beckham Jr., Tyreek Hill, and Maxx Crosby.
Coaching talent is also expected to be high-profile, with Pete Carroll, Sean Payton, and Kyle Shanahan previously announced as part of the event.
The broadcast plans remain tied to FOX Sports and Tubi, with actor and comedian Kevin Hart slated to host.
While the exact date of the relocated tournament has not yet been confirmed, the move to Los Angeles may ultimately turn the event into a test run for Olympic-style flag football. With NFL players eligible to compete in the 2028 Games, the tournament could offer an early glimpse at which stars might thrive on that stage.
More details regarding the updated schedule and format are expected in the coming days.
