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The NFL is taking its game to more places than ever. In 2026, a record nine regular-season games are being played across four continents and seven countries. The UK and London, where the NFL has played regular-season games since 2007, remain an important part of that growth, hosting three games this October.
On October 7, NFL Foundation UK marked five years of community work with its biggest event yet – taking over Tottenham Hotspur Stadium during London Games Week. Beyond Sport joined the celebration as part of our longstanding collaboration with the NFL Foundation, providing funding and capacity building to community organizations engaging young people through non-contact NFL Flag Football.
Our work includes delivering the two-year, £1 million Go! London x NFL Foundation UK grant fund, which supports 19 community organizations in 17 London boroughs. The funding helps organizations incorporate flag football into their existing programs alongside mentoring, wellbeing support and employability training. Beyond Sport also helped connect organizations and young people with opportunities to participate in the Community Day.
More than 350 young people from over 20 community organizations joined the festivities alongside partners and supporters from the NFL Foundation UK network. Throughout the day, they took to the field for flag football, got exclusive, behind-the-scenes access to the stadium, and met NFL legends and GB flag football athletes.
The program brought together different parts of the Foundation’s work. For the first time, they hosted an all-abilities SEND clinic, delivered with the Philadelphia Eagles Autism Foundation, which offered young people with disabilities the chance to try flag football. Community partners traveled from Birmingham and Leeds to play, while London organizations of the Go! London partnership had a special, dedicated session.
There was plenty happening off the field, too. A panel explored NFL Foundation UK’s impact and featured young leader Chaaliyah, who began playing flag football at 12. Through HR Sports Academy, she has since become a coach and now encourages others to get involved. Additionally, The Huddle Project introduced attendees to careers in sport, with representatives from NFL UK & Ireland and Nike sharing their experiences.
Five years on, NFL Foundation UK’s work continues to expand alongside the sport’s international growth. Through partnerships like Go! London, community organizations are bringing flag football to young people who may otherwise face barriers to participation, while connecting them with the wider support and opportunities available through their programs.
Go! London is a partnership between the Mayor of London, London Marathon Foundation and Sport England, supported by London Marathon Events and London Sport.
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