IFAF President Pierre Trochet – Continuing to grow the game worldwide

At the 2024 IFAF Congress in Lausanne, Switzerland, Pierre Trochet was elected to serve another four-year term served as President of the International Federation of American Football (IFAF).

Since 2021, Pierre has led the global expansion of American football and Flag Football and under his leadership, IFAF has achieved historic milestones, including the inclusion of flag football in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, a testament to the federation’s efforts to position American football on the world’s biggest stage.

With 75 member nations and more than 20 million players across 100 countries, IFAF continues to grow, thanks to his leadership and collaboration with key partners, particularly the NFL.

A former international tackle football player for the French national team, Pierre brings to his role a deep personal connection to the sport and a lifelong passion for its development. His experience as an athlete, combined with his entrepreneurial mindset, has fueled his commitment to growing both flag and tackle football on a global scale.

His leadership is marked by a clear vision: to build on the success of LA28 and ensure American football’s lasting presence in the Olympic movement for years to come.

Pierre’s tenure has been defined by an unwavering focus on collaboration, innovation, and the empowerment of IFAF’s member federations. With a strong partnership with the NFL, Trochet and his team, have been instrumental in strengthening relationships with key international bodies, modernizing IFAF’s governance structure, and expanding opportunities for athletes, coaches, and officials worldwide. He has prioritized building closer ties with IFAF’s members, recognizing their concerns and working to streamline internal processes to ensure more efficient support and resources for all federations.

Trochet’s educational background includes a Master’s degree in Sport Management, and he serves as a lecturer and mentor to students pursuing their own paths in the sports industry. His role as an educator has further honed his leadership skills, enabling him to guide IFAF with a strategic vision that combines entrepreneur “let’s do it” attitude with practical experience. His relationship with the NFL’s leadership has also been pivotal in driving forward IFAF’s global objectives and securing its place as a central player in the international sports landscape.

Looking ahead to the next four years, his focus is on four key pillars: supporting members, expanding influence, building commercial success and getting IFAF fit for purpose and ready to enter the next decade. His goal is to expand IFAF’s membership beyond 100 federations by 2028, reduce competition costs, maintaining Olympic status of flag football, modernize tackle football and to make the sports more accessible and attractive to athletes and fans alike. At the heart of his mission is a commitment to delivering world-class events and competitions, while simultaneously building commercial success through strategic partnerships and new revenue streams.

Pierre Trochet’s leadership continues to inspire confidence and drive the growth of American football globally. With his sights set on ensuring the long-term success of the sport within the Olympic movement and beyond, Pierre remains dedicated to building a modern, sustainable, and forward-looking federation that can meet the demands of international sport for years to come

“Reflecting on the past few years, I am proud of what we’ve accomplished together,” Pierre told delegates attending the IFAF Congress. “From securing flag football’s inclusion in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics to expanding American football’s global footprint, we have achieved historic milestones.“

However, our work is far from over. LA28 is not a one-time achievement. We now stand at a critical juncture that will determine the future of our sport, and IFAF has the potential to reach even greater heights.

“Over the past term, we’ve built pathways for athletes to compete at the highest levels while strengthening relationships with key international bodies. But challenges remain. In the next four years, we will streamline operations to better support you, our members, reduce competition costs, and create new revenue streams.

“As we move into this next phase, I am more determined than ever to continue the work we’ve started. But I cannot do it alone. The future of IFAF depends on the strength of our collective vision and the trust we place in each other.

“Staying true to our SCORE principles, we are Supportive of our federations, athletes and partners; Creative as we are always looking for fresh ideas and bold solutions to stay at the forefront of sports and leadership; Optimistic that we are future-ready, confident and ambitious; Resilient to adapt in a rapidly changing world; and Energetic in fueling our federation’s progress and growth.”