Amman, Jordan – Global Sports Partners is actively collaborating with the Jordanian American Flag Football Federation (JAFF) to build a flag football community across the Kingdom of Jordan. By assisting in coaching, organizing camps, officiating, and event planning, GSP aims to help create a competitive flag football landscape, with the ultimate goal of fielding a national team for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
The initiative is spearheaded by the JAFF Board members with GSP representatives David Kephart and Michael Thornton playing pivotal roles in making this vision a reality.
JAFF board members say they are dedicated to growing this sport “that brings individuals together, fostering a sense of cohesion and unity. From organizing tournaments to supporting our players’ development, we are laying the groundwork for Jordan to shine in the global flag football community.”
A current Jordanian flag football player expressed the personal impact of the sport, stating: "I was never good at soccer but always wanted to be part of a team. I’ve fallen in love with flag and the community. I’m so thankful this sport exists in our city."
In December 2023, GSP and JAFF organized Jordan’s first competitive men’s flag football tournament. Building on that success, they held the inaugural men’s and women’s tournament, The Al Mamlaka Flag Football Tournament, in October 2024 at Mafraq's Prince Ali Stadium. This milestone event featured four men’s teams and two women’s teams, marking the first official women’s flag football competition in the Kingdom. GSP representatives not only officiated the tournament but also coached one of the women’s teams. Approximately 70 athletes—men and women—participated, highlighting the growing enthusiasm for the sport.
The women’s competition was a best-of-three series. The Wadi Warriors won the opening game, while the Black Peppers took the second, setting the stage for an intense, winner-takes-all finale. The deciding game was a defensive battle, with the Wadi Warriors scoring late in the first half to secure a 6-0 lead. In the game’s final moments, the Black Peppers intercepted a pass at midfield, but a last-second deep pass to the end zone narrowly missed, sealing the Warriors’ victory and earning them the title of the first-ever women’s flag football champions in Jordan. Both teams left the field with high spirits, knowing they had made history for female athletes in the country.
“The federation will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that people of all ages participate and that both men and women have opportunities to play and compete, building a shared passion for the game across all segments of society.” - JAFF board members
"It was an honor to work with the Jordan American Football Federation to put on The Mamlaka Tournament. The vision the JAFF Board of Directors and the players have for the sport is contagious and I am confident the success of this tournament will be a stepping stone to even greater things for the sport in Jordan." – Michael Thornton, GSP Coordinator
GSP Jordan Representative, David Kephart, highlighted the program’s broader objectives:
"While we desire to produce well-rounded, athletic football players equipped with various sets of skills and character traits that extend far beyond the field.”
“Flag football is uniquely suitable for community. At JAFF, we are dedicated to growing this sport on both the local and international stages. From organizing tournaments to supporting our players’ development, we are laying the groundwork for Jordan to shine in the global flag football community. This is just the beginning, and we’re excited to see what the future holds." - JAFF board members
The future of flag football in Jordan is definitely bright. With weekly practices, quarterly tournaments, and a season-ending combine to assess talent, GSP and JAFF are steadily building a strong foundation for Jordan’s national teams, aiming to compete on the biggest stage in sports.