The U15 team of the Royal Oaks Knights from Alcobendas travels to Indianapolis to compete in the NFL FLAG Championships. They will represent Spain from July 24 to 26 in a global event with 13 countries.
The American dream of Spanish flag football has a name: Royal Oaks Knights from Alcobendas. The U15 team from the historic Madrid club arrives this week in Indianapolis to face the best in the world at the NFL FLAG Championships Presented by Toyota, a competition organized by the NFL that brings together 13 countries at the Droplight Grand Park Sports Campus.
The Knights arrive with the title of champions of Spain after defeating Camioneros de Coslada in the national final last November. This achievement has earned them a ticket to a global event where they will compete against powerhouses like Mexico, Brazil, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, China, Australia, New Zealand, Panama, Puerto Rico, and the host, the United States.
A Roster with National Team Talent
The Alcobendas delegation consists of a dozen young talents, many of whom are part of the Spanish U15 national team. The team is led by quarterbacks Álvaro Campos and Ariadna Mabanag, blitzer and safety José Martínez, cornerback Lía Romero, and receiver Mauro Sánchez. The roster is completed by blitzers and cornerbacks Mara Álvarez and Arwa Darkal, wide receiver Tiago Romero, and centre Ángela Tarriba. The captain is safety Bernardo 'Berni' Ruiz.
“The strongest teams in the world will participate in the competition, and we are aware of how difficult it will be to surprise them. But precisely for that reason, I think it will be great for us; it’s impossible not to become stronger with that competition,” says Berni Ruiz, now in the United States.
Head coach Diego Fernández del Rivero does not hide the group’s ambition: “We don’t go to any championship just to have fun. We go to win it, to compete at the highest level, to face something that will enrich us.”
A Historic Event
The Royal Oaks Knights are not just any club. Founded in 1972, it is the first American football team in Spain outside of U.S. military bases. A non-profit organization that has been promoting youth sports in Alcobendas for over half a century. Now, their flag football section – named Leary Knights – is writing a golden page by representing an entire country in a top-level international tournament.
For the Madrid municipality, seeing their young talents compete in Indianapolis is a pride that transcends sports. Flag football, a non-contact format gaining popularity in Spain, is experiencing a sweet moment, and the Knights' presence at the NFL FLAG Championships could serve as a springboard to attract more kids to this sport.
The competition kicks off on July 24 and runs until the 26th. The matches will take place at the Droplight Grand Park Sports Campus in Westfield, Indianapolis. Fans can follow the performance of the Madrid team through the official NFL channels. For any neighbours from Alcobendas wanting to cheer from home: they’ll need to wake up early, as the time difference with the United States is six hours.
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