US quartet leads Austrian flag‑football teams for the Olympics
The American Football Federation Austria (AFBÖ) announced on Monday that a US‑quartet – David Price, Brian Traster, Bryan Garcia and the former advisor Christopher Lankford – will lead the two Austrian flag‑football national teams in the future, to preserve the Olympic dreams and thereby secure qualification for the 2028 Olympic Games.
Olympic perspective for flag‑football
As the American Football Federation Austria (AFBÖ) announced on Monday, the non‑contact football variant will be Olympic in 2028 in Los Angeles. The first chance to qualify for the Olympic Games has already been allocated at the World Championship. Thus participation remains a central goal.
The men, who were vice‑world champions in 2024, finished in August at the World Championship in Düsseldorf in 15th and last place. The result highlights the need for action before the Olympic preparations.
The women achieved sixth place, but only two teams can qualify for the Olympics. Behind the USA, Canada and Mexico the necessary spots were missing, while the USA had to settle for silver.
New coaching team and objectives
After differing views on the future direction, the association part ways with men's coach Michael Salamon and women's coach Robert Riedl. The two Austrian teams thus receive a new leadership team. Four experienced US coaches are now to preserve the Olympic dreams, the next goal is the 2027 European Championship, where at least the final must be reached. Afterwards a qualification series with ten teams for three Olympic tickets follows.
Brian Traster takes on the role of head coach of the women; he was a world champion player with the USA. David Price, who won the 2021 World Championship gold medal and the 2022 World Games gold with the USA, leads the men. Bryan Garcia and Christopher Lankford are given as yet undefined tasks and will work closely with Austrian coaches.
"Our goal was to bring the best available know‑how to Austria and thereby promote the domestic sport," said AFBÖ sports director Andreas Pröller. "With this international caliber we want to shape the second qualification route successfully and at the same time support domestic coaches in the long term."
In the new year, various preparation camps are scheduled, followed by the goal of reaching the final at the 2027 European Championship in order to qualify for the Olympic Qualifier Series. The road to the Games in Los Angeles, where flag football will be Olympic for the first time, is still long.