JEDDAH: The second annual Ramadan Flag Football tournament ended on a high note at Jeddah United Fields on Friday, following two action-packed days of elite competition and community spirit.
The Kingdom’s largest flag football event welcomed 63 players and eight teams, including Jeddah Al-Baharah, Riyadh Titans, Jeddah Tigers, Jeddah Hunters, Riyadh Cheetahs and JFC from Riyadh and Jeddah, who demonstrated their skills, teamwork and sportsmanship.
The event drew a large crowd of American football enthusiasts, who enjoyed the thrilling on-field action.
In the men’s final, Jeddah Al-Baharah claimed the title in the men’s event, beating JFC 20-06 in the final. Their performance showed off their offensive abilities and solid defense with the help of quarterback Ali Tewfik and wide receivers Tyron Jones and Tawfig Asaad.
Meanwhile, in the women’s group, Teamup Sandstorm took on Teamup Phoenix Blaze in the final game, securing a 06-02 victory after a great performance by wide receiver Esin Bayir.
Ali Tewfik, head of the Saudi Flag football community, told Arab News after the tournament that it had highlighted the enormous talent and passion for the game that exists across the Kingdom.
“What excites me most is seeing the flag football community in Saudi Arabia grow every year,” he said. “We now have men’s and women’s teams, players from different backgrounds, and a shared passion for the game. Everything we have achieved so far from building the local community to participating in regional and international tournaments.”
He added: “It has been driven entirely by passionate Saudis who share a common goal of growing this sport. Our dream is to see flag football officially recognized in the Kingdom, continue developing Saudi talent, and ultimately watch a Saudi national team compete on the Olympic stage.”
Tewfik said this year’s edition had witnessed the first all-women flag matches in the Kingdom: “We are all thrilled to share that those women are participating in the first-ever women’s Flag Football. Seeing them enjoying the game was such a proud moment for all of us.”
The tournament’s outstanding performers were:
Tournament winners: Al-Baharah — Jeddah
Tournament MVP: Tawfig Asaad
Passing Touchdowns Leader: Ali Tewfik
Receiving Touchdowns Leader: Tyrone Jones
Interceptions Leader: Majd Zaini
Tewfik said the first American football team in Saudi Arabia was the Jeddah Jaws, established in Jeddah in 2012. It marked the beginning of the sport’s grassroots development in the Kingdom and helped lay the foundation for today’s growing flag football community.
“Currently, there are around 10 teams across Saudi Arabia. Six of them are based in Jeddah — four men’s teams and two women’s teams, while four teams are based in Riyadh. At the moment, American football is not yet officially recognized as a sport in Saudi Arabia. However, we have been in discussions with the Ministry of Sport and the Saudi Olympic Committee with the goal of establishing an official Saudi Flag Football Federation.
“At present, around 150 to 200 people are actively involved in the flag football community in Saudi Arabia, with approximately 90 percent of participants being Saudi nationals. Our long-term goal is to see flag football officially recognized as a sport in Saudi Arabia under its own national federation. This would open the door for structured growth, youth development and international participation. Ultimately, we hope to represent Saudi Arabia in global competitions, including the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.”
