World American Football by Decade and Region
American Football Leagues started around the World in the following order by decade and have been listed in this Index in this order:
World Pro & International American Football
World Pro American Football The first World Professional American Football League was the World League of American Football in 1991.
International American Football The first Internationals were played in 1926
World American Football Leagues
Canadian Football Leagues The Grey Cup, Canada’s Super Bowl was first played in 1909
Mexican American Football The Mexican College Championship, the Premier Competition in Mexico has been played since 1933.
Japan American Football The Rice Bowl, Japan’s Super Bowl, has been played since 1947.
Europe American Football The Italian Championship has been played since 1977, and the Eurobowl, Europe’s Super Bowl since 1986.
American Football Ireland has its own page on Eirball: American Football Ireland
Pacific American Football The first Australian State and New Zealand Provincial Gridiron Championships have been played since 1982.
Asia American Football Asia, being the biggest, most diverse and most populous continent, has discovered American Football at different times:
Korean American Football The Kimchi Bowl, Korea’s Super Bowl has been played since 1995 between the winners of the Tiger Bowl (University Championship) and Gwanggaeto Bowl (Social – Corporate Championship). The National University Championship has been played since 1958
West Asia American Football The first American Football Leagues in countries such as Turkey, Israel and UAE were played from 2001 onwards.
East & South Asia American Football American Football Leagues were first played in China, India and South East Asian Countries such as Malaysia and Philippines in the 2010s.
Latin American Football The first Kitted (Contact) American Football Leagues in South and Central America, other than Mexico appeared in the 2000s
African American Football The first American Football League in Africa was the Egyptian League in 2015.
World Pro American Football
Major American Football Leagues have been played outside of the USA since the World League of American Football in 1991.
Images References
[World Pro 1] World League of American Football (2018) WLAF Logo [Internet] Available from: http://www.worldleagueofamericanfootball.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/WLAFlogo.gif [Accessed 23 April 2018]
World Pro American Football Leagues (Bowl Games):
World Pro American Football Leagues Bowl Games 1991-2019
World Pro American Football Leagues (Overviews):
World League of American Football 1991-1992
American Football League of Europe 1993-1995
World League of American Football 1995-1997
National Football League Europe 1998-2007
United Football League 2009-2011
Elite Football league of India 2012
Lingerie Football League Canada 2012-13
Legends Football League Australia |2013-14
China Arena Football League 2016-2019
Pretty Girls Football League | Mexico 2017
World Pro American Football League Seasons:
American Football League of Europe 1995
China Arena Football League 2019
International American Football
The first match that could be described as an International Gridiron or American Football mstch is the one between two AFL teams in Canada in 1926. Following this the NFL and AFL played a series of matches between the Leagues in the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s.
In 1941 the first Canadian Football League v American Football League matches were held, and in 1950 the first match between a National Football League team and a Canadian Football League team.
Beginning in the 1970s, there were attempts at promoting American Football in Europe, through the Intercontinental Football League, and from there the World. In 1976 the St. Louis Cardinals and San Diego Chargers played in Tokyo. In 1984 two United States Football League teams played in London, and in 1986 the first NFL American Bowl preseason game was held in London.
In 1999 the first World Cup was held, involving USA, Canada, as well as four other Nations which have to qualify through a series of matches.
In 2007 the NFL decided to promote the NFL in London, Mexico City and Toronto with the International Series of Regular Season games, which have run until the present.
Images
[International 1] Ninety-Nine Yards, Chris Lawton (2020) An International Fixture: When the CFL played teams from other leagues [Internet] Available from: https://i0.wp.com/ninetynineyards.com/wp-content/upl
Major American Football Leagues Internationals
American Football League International (1926)
American Football League International 1926
National Football League v American Football Leagues (1927-1937):
Whilst not strictly speaking International matches, the National Football League has also played matches against American Football League teams in the 1920s, 1930s, & 1940s.
National Football League v American Football League 1927-1928
California Winter League 1927-1928
Memphis Tigers | AAA Independent American Football 1929-1933
National Football League v Pacific Coast Football League 1936
Pacific Coast Football Leagues (Seasons): 1927 1928
Canadian Football League v Major American Football Leagues (1941-1969)
Canadian Football League v American Football League Matches 1941-1948
National Football League v Canadian Football League 1950-1961
National Football League Preseason Matches in Canada 1960-1969
Major American Football Leagues International (1972-Present)
The National Football League began playing matches abroad in 1950, with a series of matches in Canada and against Canadian opposition, which lasted until 1969. Then it played a match in Paris in 1972, as well as matches in the 1970s in Tokyo in partnership with the Intercontinental Football League. In the 1980s it started playing preseason matches in Europe (the American Bowl) and after the NFL Europe Development League experiment (1991-2007) it scheduled Regular Season NFL games in London, as well as preseason games in Japan, Mexico & Toronto.
In the meantime there has also been matches between NCAA and Minor League teams and teams from Leagues around the World.
National Football League International Games
National Football League Intercontinental 1972-1978
United States Football League | Postseason Exhibition Game in London 1984
National Football League | American Bowl Pre-Season Games in Europe 1986-1997
National Football League American Bowl Preseason Games in Mexico 1994-2001
National Football League International | Regular Season Games in London 2007-Present
AAA Leagues Internationals
The Spring League v Japan National Team 2020
Minor American Football Leagues Internationals
Intercontinental Football League European Championship 1976-1978
Proposed American Football League in USSR 1979
Intercontinental Football League European Championship (Seasons): 1978 1977 1976
US and Canadian Colleges Internationals (1947-Present)
US College Division I Teams Games Abroad:
NFL & NCAA Pre-Season Games in Ireland 1988-1997
NCAA Football | Regular Season Games in Ireland 2012-2016
US College Division III Football Games v World Opposition
Tazon Azteca (Aztec Bowl – Mexican v US American Football) 1947-Present
International American Football | Ireland v NCAA Division III Teams 2004-2005
International American Football | Irish Teams v NCAA Division III Teams 2007-2019
US College Division III Football Games Abroad
Intercontinental Football League College and Air Force Games 1972-1973
International American Football USSR 1989
American Football World Cups
American Football World Cup (Editions): 1999 2003 2007 2011
American Football European Championships
American Football Europe Federation European Championships (Editions): 1983
Internationals (Non-USA & Canada)
Ireland:
For more on Irish International American Football see: International American Football (Ireland)
United Arab Emirates:
United Arab Emirates | International American Football Matches 2012-2018
Canadian Football Leagues
Canadian Football League Major Era (1958-Present):
Images:
[Canada 1] Canadian Football League (2019) CFL Logo [Internet] Available from: https://www.cfl.ca/wp-content/themes/cfl.ca/images/og-image-default.jpg?_t=201902271522 [Accessed 20 May 2019]
Canadian Football League 1993-1995
Canadian Football League 2001-2009
Canadian Football League (Seasons): 2019 2020
Canadian Football League Timelines:
Canadian Football League Timeline 1869-present
Canadian Football League Expansion 1869-present
Canadian Rugby Union (1907-1958)
The Interprovincial Rugby Football Union (IRFU), the Big Four (Hamilton Tigers, Toronto Argonauts, Ottawa Rough Riders and Montreal Football Club), The Grey Cup was donated in 1909 by the Earl of Grey, for which only Canadian Rugby Union members may play for. The CFL’s version of the Super Bowl, and since the 1950s has been in the sole possession of the CFL, when the sport broke away from the Canadian Rugby Union and formed its own League, with the Cup dating back to the late-nineteenth century.
Canadian Football is 12-a-side as opposed to 11-a-side in standard American Football, with a 110-yard field, with two 20-yard endzones (whereas in American Football it is 100-yards long with two 15-yard endzones). in Canadian Football teams also have only three downs (attempts) in which to gain 10 yards before the ball is turned over as opposed to 4 in American Football. There is also the “Rouge” – 1 Point scored when the ball is kicked out the back of the endzone.
Canadian Football League 1950-1959
Canadian Semi-Pro Football Leagues:
Maritime Provinces
Maritime Football League (Canada) 2015-2019
Quebec
Quebec Major Junior Football League 2011-2019
Northern Ontario & Quebec
Northern Football Conference 2015-2019
Alberta
Alberta Football League (Seasons): 2019
Canadian Junior Football League (Amateur):
Images References
[Canada 3] Canadian Junior Football League | Facebook (2011) CJFL Profile Picture: March 3, 2011 [Internet] Available from: https://scontent-dub4-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/s720x720/172369_166507693399012_2554406_o.jpg?_nc_cat=108&_nc_eui2=AeEmInrSy7Bp5Q4nj_j07-ZNBsVadK5KjxZ41fzEaVCISv70yVik13v0v3zYpBxRgsfUNu-p8l9wNdwiUtbFgjxmLVz-GqrX6CXGQ0Q1t3vEOg&_nc_ohc=qW-lYWvPX78AQld50UAOtsqMmpIdM9heSa3xodVrfPzv-6YUYkLSkRtlA&_nc_ht=scontent-dub4-1.xx&oh=6d635c510b3954231714cee2128f1767&oe=5E6D4BE8%5BAccessed 20 December 2019]
Maritime Canada
Atlantic Football Leagues
Atlantic Football League Moosehead Cup Champions 2009-Present
Atlantic Football League 2016-2019
Quebec
Quebec Provincial Championships
Quebec Rugby Football Union (Canadian Football) Junior Series 1887-1889
Junior Quebec Rugby Football Union 1890-1899
Quebec Junior Football Provincial Championship (Canadian Football) 1902-1905
Quebec Football Leagues (Rivals):
Junior Quebec Rugby Football Union (Canadian Football) 1900-1906
Quebec Independent Junior Football League (Canadian Football) 1904-1905
Ontario
Ontario Junior Football Leagues
Junior Ontario Rugby Football Union (Canadian Football) Championship Games 1890-1901
Junior Ontario Rugby Football Union (Canadian Football) 1902-1906
Canadian Junior Football League | Ontario Conference 2014-2019
Ontario Football Leagues (Universities and Colleges):
Junior Inter-Collegiate Rugby Football Union (Canadian Football) 1906
Little Big Four (Canadian Football) 1902-1906
Canadian Shield / Prairie (Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba):
Manitoba Junior Football Leagues
Manitoba Junior Rugby Football Union (Canadian Football) 1893-1904
Prairie Conference (Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba)
Canadian Junior Football League | Prairie Conference 2014-2019
British Columbia
Canadian Rugby Union (Canadian Football) | Big Four Football 1947-1956
Canadian Junior Football League | British Columbia Conference 2014-2019
Canadian Football Leagues Internationals
Canadian Football League Internationals:
American Football League International 1926
Canadian Football League v American Football League Matches 1941-1948
National Football League v Canadian Football League 1950-1961
National Football League Preseason Matches in Canada 1960-1969
Canadian Semi-Pro Provincial Leagues International:
Irish American Football Teams v Canadian Semi-Pro Teams 1994-1995
Canadian U21 Teams International:
Irish American Football Teams v Canadian U21 Teams 2002-2013
Canadian U20 & High School Gridiron Football Teams in Ireland 2012-2013
Mexican American Football
Mexican Pro-Leagues:
Images References
[1] Liga Football Americano Mexico (2019) LFA 2018 Logo [Internet] Available from: https://i1.wp.com/lfa.mx/2018/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/LFAlogonew.png?fit=734%2C734&ssl=1 %5BAccessed 1 August 2018]
Major Mexican American Football Leagues:
Liga Futbol Americano (Mexico) 2016-2019
Liga Football Americano (Mexico) (Seasons): 2020 2019 2016
AAA Mexican American Football Leagues:
Futbol Americano de Mexico 2019-Present
Futbol Americano (Mexico) Asociacion 2014-2016
Futbol Americano de Mexico (Seasons): 2021 2020 2019
Organisation Mexicano de Futbol Americano OMFA Pro (seasons): 2011 2010
Mexican College American Football
Mexican v USA College Bowls
Tazon de las Estrellas CONADEIP (Mexican) v NCAA (USA) All-Star College Bowl 2013-Present
Tazon Azteca ONEFA (Mexico) v NCAA (USA) All-Star College Football Bowl 1947-2016
Mexican Colleges
Images References
Mexican College Bowls
Tazon Azteca ONEFA v CONADEIP Mexican College All-Star Bowl 2018-Present
ONEFA (Mexican College Football) Campeones Nacional de Liga Mayor 1933-Present
CONADEIP Primera Fuerza (Mexico Private College American Football) Finals 2013-2019
ONEFA Liga Mayor (Major League)
[2] ONEFA (2020) ONEFA Logo [Internet] Available from: https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/PpcJl5QlfPoMSO4T5EdZd4ou8LwusCaoqw0_cjYcC2_CTplUWHkQJTa9S-DKMPI-FrkqeXFWoppz6Rha95yr [Accessed 11 May 2020]
ONEFA Liga Mayor Conferencia de los Diez Grandes (ONEFA Mexico Major League Big 10) 1996-1999
CONADEIP Primera Fuerza (Premier League)
CONADEIP Primera Fuerza (Mexican College American Football) 2013-2014
Mexican Junior College American Football
Images References
[3] CONADEIP (2019) logo [Internet] Available from: http://conadeipfba.org.mx/images/logo.png [Accessed 15 December 2019]
CONADEIP Categoria Juvenil Finals
CONADEIP Categoria Juvenil (Mexican Junior College Football) Finals 2013-Present
CONADEIP Categoria Juvenil (Junior College)
CONADEIP Categoria Juvenil (Mexican Junior College Football) 2015-2016
Federation Mexicana de Football Americano
Mexican State Leagues:
Chihuahua:
Asociacion de Football Americano de Chihuahua 2019
Edomex (Estado de Mexico):
Football Americano del Estado de Mexico A.C. (FADEMAC) | Liga Mayor 2019
Indoor 8-v-8 Mexican Arena Leagues
Liga Extrema se Football Arena (LEXFA)
Liga Extrema de Football Arena Mexico
LEXFA: Lega Extrema de Fútbol Arena México (LEXFA) Division I Otoño 2013-2019
LEXFA: Liga Extrema de Football Arena Mexico (LEXFA) Autumn Division II 2013-2016
Liga Extrema de Futbol Arena Mexico
LEXFA: Lega Extrema de Fútbol Arena México (LEXFA) Division I Otoño 2013-2019
LEXFA: Liga Extrema de Football Arena Mexico (LEXFA) Autumn Division II 2013-2016
LEXFA Zona Golfo de Mexico (Seasons): Spring 2013
LEXFA Zone Occidente (Seasons): Spring 2013
Super 8 Football League
Images References
[5] Super 8 Football League (2018) Super 8 Football League Logo [Internet] Available from: http://super8footballleague.info/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/10378207_1545248759045177_2010222216677056541_n.jpg [Accessed 20 July 2019]
Baja California (Arena):
Super 8 Football League Baja 2012-Present
Southern California-Nevada (Arena):
Super 8 Football League West Coast 2016-Present
Baja-California-Nevada Tournaments (Seasons):
Super 8 Football League Bowls & Tournaments 2010-Present
Super 8 Football League Tournaments (Seasons):
Winter Bowl 2014 Copa Tijuana 2017 Battle 4 San Diego 2019 Eight Man Outdoor 2020
Mexican Women’s American Football
FXF Football Xtremo Femenil:
FXF Football Xtremo Femenil (Mexico) 2019
Liga Extrema de Futbol Arena Mexico Femenil (LEXFA)
Liga Extrema de Football Arena Mexico (LEXFA) Femenil 2011-2019
LEXFA Torneo FXF (Seasons): 2011
Legends Football Leagues
Pretty Girls Football League | Mexico 2017
Mexican Flag Football
Liga Extrema de Futbol Arena Mexico (LEXFA)
LEXFA Zona Caribe: Summer 2011
Japan American Football
American Football was first introduced to Japan in the 1930s, although it was not until after WWII, that it was played competitvely, with the Rice Bowl, Japan’s version of the Super Bowl, being played between the Universities since 1947, and since 1984 between the University Champions and the Social Champions (Business League – currently X-League).
There is also a third League in Japan, which is the Private Club League, opening up American Football to non-students and Corporate Workers. The JPFF (Japan Private Football Association) organises the Ocean Bowl between the JPFF East and JPFF West Champions.
Rice Bowl
Japan Rice Bowl (Universities v Social Champions):
Japan American Football Association | Japan American Football Championship | Rice Bowl 1984-2019
Social Championships
Images
[Japan 2] X-League (2020) X-Logo [Internet] Available from: https://s3-ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/xleague/images/xlogo.png [Accessed 7 January 2020]
Japan X-League (Social League)
Japan American Football Association | X-League 2017-2019
University Championships
Japan Universities (Student Leagues)
North Japan University Championship (Japan) Pine Bowl 2012-Present (Tohuku Region v Hokkaido University)
Tohoku Collegiate American Football Association TCAA (Japan) Champions 1976-Present (Tohoku Region – Northeast Japan)
Tohoku Collegiate American Football Association (TCAA – Northeast Japan – Seasons):
Private Club Championships
Images References
[Japan 3] Japan Private Football Association East (2020) JPFF Logo [Internet] Available from: https://image.jimcdn.com/app/cms/image/transf/dimension=79×10000:format=jpg/path/sce5a977e2e10f41a/image/i123385dd37d4d78c/version/1473861071/image.jpg [Accessed 10 May 2020]
Japan Private Football Association JPFF (Private / Clubs League):
Japan Private Football Association JPFF All Japan Championship Ocean Bowl 2016-Present
Europe American Football
European Championships
The first American Football European Championships were held in 1983, at Vince Lombardi Stadium, Castelgiorgio, Italy. Italy beat Finland 18-6 in the Final.
AFEF European Championships (Editions): 1983
EFL European Championships (Editions): 1987 1989
National Football League International & Development Leagues (Major & AAA – Levels 0 & 1):
After the US Air Force & Army Leagues, the National Football League set about promoting the NFL in Europe. In 1970 the film M*A*S*H saw the first mainstream exposure of American Football in Europe with its climactic Football game at the end. Immediately following this there were expressions of interest from Europeans about setting up a League, and what followed was the Intercontinental Football League, which was to feature 6 teams, including the Rome Gladiators, owned by Bruno Beneck, the director of the most popular TV Sports Show in Italy, who had successfully introduced Baseball 20 years earlier. The League never got off the ground due to the oil crisis and the spectre of Terrorism, but the IFL continued to promote the game, playing a game in 1972 in Paris featuring NFL players, as well as bringing College teams and Semi-Pro Teams from 1976-1978 to play a best-of-5 European Championship.
TV stations started showing American Football in the late-1970s and early 1980s and the first Leagues sprang up, including the Rome Gladiators in Bruno Beneck’s Italy. By 1986 the National Football League had begun to play Pre-Season games in London, Barcelona, Berlin and Dublin. The European audiences soon wanted more so the World League of American Football, featuring 3 European teams, 6 American and one Canadian, was started in 1991. It lasted two seasons before being shelved by the NFL due to the lack of interest from American fans in a Development League. The American Football League of Europe, which ran from 1994-1995 filled in the gap in Pro Football, with its mix of start-up teams and teams from the European National Leagues bolstered by American imports.
The World League returned in 1995 as a 6-team Europe-only League and was renamed the NFL Europe League in 1998. After initial success, attendances dwindled – the fans wanted an NFL franchise – so in 2007 the NFL folded the League and focused on promoting the NFL in Europe through the NFL International Series – starting with one NFL Regular Season game a year played in London, growing to 4-per-year by 2020, with the stated intention of putting a team in London permanently by 2022.
US Pro Leagues in Europe (Major League):
National Football League International | Regular Season Games in London 2007-Present
National Football League | American Bowl Pre-Season Games in Europe 1986-1997
United States Football League | Postseason Exhibition Game in London 1984
National Football League Intercontinental 1972-1978
European & International Pro & Semi-Pro Weekly Football Leagues (Level 0):
Amsterdam Crusaders Independent Schedule American Football Team 2018
Central European Football League 2006-2016
National Football League Europe 1998-2007
World League of American Football 1995-1997
American Football League of Europe 1993-1995
Hamburg Devils Independent Schedule American Football Team 1993
World League of American Football 1991-1992
International League of American Football 1990
Proposed American Football League in USSR 1979
Northern Italian Football League 1976-1986
Intercontinental Football League European Championship 1976-1978
Intercontinental Football League 1974-1975
American Football League of Europe (Seasons): 1995
European League of American Football (Seasons): 1993
Intercontinental Football League European Championship (Seasons): 1978 1977 1976
European Football Associations & the Eurobowl (AAA Level 1 & AA Level 2)
The first Eurobowl for European National Champions was played in 1986, governed by the European Football League. The organisation fell apart in 1992, following the expulsion of the United Kingdom, and was replaced by the European Federation of American Football which ran the Eurobowl until 2015 when the German Football League International took over running the sport for one year, being replaced in turn by the Europe Division of the International Federation of American Football, the World Governing Body.
Eurobowl Finals:
European Federation of American Football Europe Eurobowl 1986-Present
European American Football Level 1 Overviews (Eurobowl):
International Federation of American Football Europe Big 6 Eurobowl 2015-present
European Football League Eurobowl (Level 1): 1986 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993
European Federation of American Football Eurobowl (Level 1): 1994
IFAF Europe European Football League (Level 2): 2016
Western Europe (A Level 3):
There has been Regional Tournaments in Western Europe since the Four Nations Bowl (England, Ireland, Scotland & Wales) in the 1990s and then the Charleroi Trophy (Belgium, Netherlands, Ireland) in the early 2000s. This was replaced by the Atlantic Cup in 2009, which ran until 2017 when the Belgian & Dutch Champions made the step up to European Football League Level.
Western European Club Championships (Level 3) (Overviews):
European Federation of American Football Charleroi Trophy Finals 2002-2004
European Federation of American Football IFAF Europe Atlantic Cup Finals 2009-2017
Western European Friendlies (Seasons): 1986
Four Nations Bowl (Seasons): 1992
Charleroi Trophy: (Seasons) 2002 2003 2004
Atlantic Cup (Seasons): 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Northern Europe (A Level 3):
The Scandinavian Cup, played in the 1990s between the winners of the Swedish, Norwegian, Danish & Finnish Leagues, is the oldest of the Northern European Regional Tournaments. It has since been replaced by the Northern European Football League, featuring the British Champions too.
Nothern European Friendlies (Level 3): 1986
EFL Scandinavian Cup (Level 3): 1987 1988 1989 1993 1994 1995
IFAFE Northern European Football League (Level 3): 2017 2018
Central Europe (A levels 3 & 4):
Central European Competitions have included the Challenge Cup (EFAF Era) and more recently the Central European Football League. These competitons have pitted the Champions of – at times – Austria, Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia, Croatia, Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey – against each other in two levels as it currently stands.
Central European Football League Bowl (A level 3): 2018
Central European Football League Cup (A- level 4) 2018
International Friendlies
International American Football USSR 1989
National Leagues
The earliest National Leagues in Europe were the ones in Italy (1977), Germany (1979) and Finland (1979) and have since grown to include just about every Country in Europe.
National Bowl Games:
EFAF National Bowl Games (Seasons): 1994 1995
EFAF AMPRO European Top 20 (end-of-season Rankings): 1995
Celtic National Leagues
Ireland (AFI):
As this is an Irish Sports Archive there is much more on American Football Ireland covered, so Ireland has its own page at: American Football Ireland
Britain (BAFA)
Britain: Level 1:
British American Football Association Britbowl Finals 1985-Present
British American Football Merit League (Seasons): 1984
Britain Level 2:
British American Football Non-Merit Table (Seasons): 1984
Britain: 5th Level:
British Gridiron Football League 1987-1988
Britain: British Colleges & Universities Football:
British Collegiate American Football League 1985-1990
British Collegiate American Football League 1990-1994
Britain: Women’s
British American Football Association Women’s Sapphire Series Division 1 2017-2019
British: Youth Kitted
British Youth American Football Association Kitted League 1991
England
National Passball League
National Passball League (Britannia) 1988-1993
National Passball League (Seasons): 1988 1991 1992 1993
English Regional Leagues
North England: Yorkshire Rose Winter League (Seasons): 1993
North England Friendlies (Seasons): 1994
Midlands: West Bromwich Sevens Tournament (Seasons): 1993
Home Counties: Home Counties Friendlies (Seasons): 1993
South England: Christine Crawley Charity Cup (Seasons): 1993
West Country: Oxford Passball Tournament (Seasons): 1993
English Senior Flag Football
English Senior Flag League 9v9 Senior Championship 2003-2005
British Senior Flag League 9v9 Senior Championship 1998-2002
English Junior Flag Football
Junior Gridiron League Youth League (14-18 y.o.) (Seasons):1994 1995
Youth Flag Football (South East England) (Seasons): 1993
Junior Gridiron League Junior League (9-15 yo) (Seasons): 1995
English Youth Two Touch Football
Junior American Football League (Britain) 1988
Junior Gridiron League Youth Two Touch League (South England) (Seasons): 1993
Junior Gridiron League Junior Two Touch League (South Britain) (Seasons): 1993
Northern Junior Gridiron League Two Touch (North England) (Seasons): 1993 1994
Scotland (SGA)
Scottish American Football Leagues
Caledonian Thistle American Football League 1987-1988
Scottish Gridiron Association Bowl Finals 1995-1998
Scottish American Football Capital Bowl 1986-1990
Capital Bowl (Seasons): 1990 1989
Scottish Flag Football Leagues
Scottish Flag Football Friendlies 1993-94
Scottish Flag Football Association Senior 2003-2007
Wales
North West & Welsh Counties American Football League 1987
Wales Friendlies (Seasons): 1993
Wales Friendlies (Seasons): 1993
Brittany (Conf’Ouest)
Conference Ouest (Brittany American Football) 1997-2005
Galicia (AGFA)
Liga Gallega de Futbol Americano (Galicia) 2012-2016
British & English National Leagues
West European National Leagues
France (FFFA)
France: (FFFA):
FFFA French American Football Federation Division 1 2000-2010
Belgium (BAFL):
Belgium (BAFL):
Belgian American Football League | Elite Division 2017
Flanders (FAFL):
Flemish American Football League | Division II 2016
Switzerland (SAFV):
SAFV Swiss American Football Federation Nationalliga A 1986-1990
North European & Scandinavian National Leagues
Germany (AfvD)
German Football League (Seasons): 1993
Denmark (DAFF):
Dansk Amerikansk Fodbold Forbund (Denmark) Mermaid Bowl 1988-Present
Finland (SAJL):
Finnish American Football Association Men’s League (Seasons): 2018
Iceland
Icelandic American Football (Reykjavik Einherjar) 2016-2019
Reykjavik Einherjar (Seasons): 2018-19 2017-18 2016-17
Norway (NAIF)
Norwegian American Football Federation 1st Division 1991-2000
Southern European National Leagues
Italy (FIFA):
Federazione Italiana Football Americano 1977
Lega Italiana Football Americano 1980-1981
Spain (FEFA):
Federation Espana de Football Americano LNFA Series (Spain) A 2017-2018
Portugal (FPFA):
Liga Portuguesa de Futebol Americano (Seasons): 2020
Campeonato Nacional (Seasons): 2019
Catalonia (CLAF)
Catalan League of American Football (Seasons): 1995
Central & East European National Leagues
Austria (FA, AFBOe)
Football Austrian (AFBOe) Austrian Bowl 1984-Present
Poland (PLAF):
Polish League of American Football 2006-2010
Oceania American Football
Since the 1980s American Football Leagues have been organised in Australia & New Zealand, with State Leagues in each of Australia’s six states as well as the Australian Capital Territory (Canberra) and Leagues in three of New Zealand’s Provinces.
In addition Australian States play for the Outback Bowl, and the Champions of each State and Territory play in the Southern Cross Tournament for the right to call themselves Australian Club Champions. New Zealand’s Provinces also play for the National Provincial Championship.
Pacific American Football Leagues:
Australia
Images
[Australia 1] Gridiron Australia Twitter (2020) Profile Picture, svQ6AuTx_400x400 [Internet] Available from: https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1038406427881041920/svQ6AuTx_400x400.jpg [Accessed 4 July 2020]
Australian State Championships:
Australian Inter-State Millennium Tournament (Seasons): 2000
Australian Capital Territory Gridiron League
Australian Capital Territory Gridiron League 2000-2009
Gridiron New South Wales
Gridiron New South Wales Mens Competition 2018-2019
Gridiron New South Wales Mens Competition (Seasons): 1989
Gridiron New South Wales Mens AA Competition (2nd Division) (Seasons): 1989
Gridiron Queensland
Gridiron Queensland Mens Competition (Seasons): 1988-89 2018-19
Gridiron South Australia
Gridiron South Australia Seniors 1986-1989
Gridiron Tasmania
Tasmanian Gridiron League 1999-2002
Gridiron Victoria
Victorian Gridiron Football League 1988-1989
Victorian Gridiron Football League 1999-2001
Gridiron West (Western Australia)
Gridiron West Open Mens Competition (Western Australia) 2015-2020
New Zealand
Images References
[New Zealand 1] Gridiron NZ Wayback Machine (2001) head_left [Internet] Available from: https://web.archive.org/web/20010118001900im_/http://gridiron.co.nz/images/head_left.gif [Accessed 4 July 2020]
Gridiron New Zealand
GNZ National Provincial Championship (Seasons): 2000
American Football Auckland
Auckland Premier Gridiron League (Seasons): 1999-2000
American Football Canterbury
American Football Canterbury (Seasons): 2018
American Football Wellington
American Football Wellington (Seasons): 2019
Asia American Football
American Football was first introduced to Japan in the 1930s, although it was not until 1947 that it was played regularly, with the Rice Bowl, Japan’s Super Bowl played since 1947. Japan is so big on American Football it has its own page on Eirball at: Japan American Football
American Football was then introduced to Korea in the 1950s, South East Asia in the 1960s, West asia in the 2000s and China and India in the 2010s.
Korea American Football
American Football has been played in Asia since the 1950s. The Kimchi Bowl is their version of the Super Bowl and has been played since 1995 between the winners of the University Championship (Tiger Bowl) and Social Championship (Corporations) (Gwanggaeto Bowl).
The National University Championship has been played since 1958 and since 1995 is known as the Tiger Bowl.
The Gwanggaeto Bowl is the Championship Game of the Social Championship (Corporations).
Kimchi Bowl (Social Champions v University Champions):
Korea American Football Association | Kimchi Bowl 1995-2017
Tiger Bowl (National University Championship):
Korea American Football Association Tiger Bowl (University Championship) 2007-Present
Korea American Football Club Association (Arena Football):
A-League (Seasons): 2019
B-League (seasons): 2019
West Asia American Football
American Football started in countries like Israel, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and Kazakhstan in the early 2000s.
Israel (AFI):
American Football in Israel | Israeli Football League 2012-2018
Turkey (TAFK):
Turkiye Amerikan Futbolu Kurlu Turkey Tournament (Seasons): 2001
United Arab Emirates:
Emirates American Football League Desert Bowl 2013-Present
United Arab Emirates | International American Football Matches 2012-2018
East & South Asia American Football
American Football Leagues started in countries like China, India, Philippines and Malaysia in the 2010s. For Japan, where the Rice Bowl, their equivalent of the Super Bowl which started in 1947 see: Japan American Football and for Korea, where their National University Championship started in 1958 see: Korea American Football.
For West Asia, where American Football started in countries like Turkey & Israel in the 2000s, see: West Asia American Football
China (AFLC)
China Arena Football League 2016-2019
China Arena Football League (seasons): 2019
Indian Sub-Continent
Elite Football league of India 2012
Philippines (PAFL)
Philippines American Football League 2018-2019
Philippines American Football League (Seasons): 2019
Malaysia (MAFA)
Malaysia American Football Association Flag Football Rose Bowl (Seasons): 2019
Latin American Football Leagues
This is a record of Latin American Gridiron (American Football) Leagues. American Football is known as Football Americano, or just simply Football, in Latin America, as opposed to Futbol, which is the Spanish name for Soccer.
The sport was first played in Mexico in the late 19th Century, and leagues first started appearing in Mexico in the 1940s. In the 2000s the first Kitted American Football Leagues started in Argentina and Brazil, and are now played everywhere in Latin America.
Mexico
Note: As Mexico is so big on American Football it has its own section: For more on Mexican American Football Leagues (Including Professional, College and State Leagues) see: Mexican American Football Leagues
Guatemala
Liga Asociacion Guatemalteca de Football Americano (Overviews):
Asociacion Guatemalteca de Football Americano 2015-2017
Brazil
Campeonato Estadiaus (State Championships)
Amazonas Campeonato Amazonense (Seasons): 2019
Candango (Goias-Brasilia) Campeonato Candango (Seasons): 2019
Santa Catarina Campeonato Catarinense (Seasons): 2020
Carioca (Rio de Janeiro) Campeonato Carioca de Futebol Americano (Seasons): 2019
Gaucho (Rio Grande do Sul) Campeonato Gaucho de Futebol Americano (Seasons): 2020
Mato-Grosseto Campeonato Mato-Grossense de Football Americano (Seasons): 2018
Paulista (Sao Paulo) Sao Paulo Football League Diamond Series (Seasons): 2019
Mineiro (Minas Gerais) Minas Gerais Football League (Seasons): 2020
Argentina
Football Americano Argentina Liga Mayor (Overviews):
Football Americano Argentina Liga Mayor 2012-2019
African American Football Leagues
The Egyptian American Football league is currently the only fully kitted contact American Football League in Africa, although there are Flag Football Leagues (Tag) in Egypt, Morocco and Ivory Coast.
Egypt
EFAF Egyptian National Football League (Overviews):
Egyptian National Football League Egyptian Bowl 2015-Present