American Football League Europe

Last updated
American Football League Europe
Upcoming season or competition:
AmericanFootball current event.svg 2026 The League Europe season
Sport American football
Founded2 December 2025;
37 days ago (2025-12-02)
First season 2026
OwnerAmerican Football League Europe LLC
CountriesGermany
Austria
Switzerland
France
Poland
Great Britain
Monaco
Headquarters Hamburg, Germany;
Vienna, Austria
Continent Europe
Official website www.aflepro.com

The American Football League Europe, abbreviated as AFLE and also referred to as The League: Europe, is a professional American football league in Europe. Founded in December 2025, it will begin competition in spring 2026.

Contents

Background

After the 2025 season, numerous teams left the European League of Football (ELF), which had existed since 2020. The ELF's leadership was criticized for a lack of transparency, and teams complained that they were not receiving revenue shares from the league. The teams that formed the European Football Alliance were unable to agree among themselves on a league structure. Some teams favored a team-led league and ultimately agreed with the ELF on a new structure. However, others preferred creating a new league with the support of an external investor. This new league was publicly presented on December 2, 2025, as AFLE – The League: Europe. [1]

The American Football League Europe LLC is headquartered in Casper, Wyoming. It is owned by a U.S.-based family office. [2] The families behind it are not publicly known. AFLE has league offices in Hamburg and Vienna.

On December 6, 2025, the two-time ELF champion Rhein Fire became the first team to announce its participation in the league. [3]

Teams

As of December 18, the league has confirmed five teams. [4] [5] Further participants are expected to include the Vienna Vikings, whose owners co-initiated the league. The league has also announced teams from Italy, the United Kingdom, and Monaco. [1] [2]

TeamsLocationStadiumCapacityHead Coach2025
Berlin Thunder [6] Flag of Germany.svg Berlin Flag of the United States.svg Phil McGeoghan ELF, 3–9
Panthers Wrocław [7] Flag of Poland.svg Wrocław Olympic Stadium 11.000 Flag of the United States.svg Dave Likins ELF, 5–7
Rhein Fire Flag of Germany.svg Düsseldorf/Duisburg Schauinsland-Reisen-Arena, Duisburg 31.500ELF, 8–4, Wild Card game
Alpine Rams Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Biel/Bienne Tissot Arena 5.200 Flag of the United States.svg Joshua Fitzgerald new
Vienna Vikings [8] Flag of Austria.svg Vienna Flag of the United States.svg Chris Calaycay ELF, 11–1, lost Championship Game
Flag of France.svg Paris new
Flag of Italy.svg Italy
Monaco Mariners [9] Flag of Monaco.svg Monaco new
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Great Britan

References

  1. 1 2 Walter Reiterer (2025-12-02). "AFLE präsentiert neues europäisches Football-Projekt: „The League Europe" soll Stabilität bringen". Österreichs Football Portal (in German). Retrieved 2025-12-07.
  2. 1 2 Hendrik Müller (2025-12-02). "Neue europäische Liga – AFLE präsentiert Vision". Foot Bowl (in German). Retrieved 2025-12-14.
  3. ↑ "AFLE: Rhein Fire als erstes Team bestätigt" (in German). 2025-12-06. Retrieved 2025-12-07.
  4. ↑ Hendrik Müller (2025-12-09). "Panthers Wrocław schließen sich The League Europe an". Foot Bowl (in German). Retrieved 2025-12-09.
  5. ↑ "Instagram" . Retrieved 2025-12-18.
  6. ↑ "ELF und AFLE verkünden weitere Teams für 2026" (in German). Retrieved 2025-12-17.
  7. ↑ Hendrik (2025-12-09). "Panthers Wrocław schließen sich The League Europe an". Foot Bowl (in German). Retrieved 2025-12-17.
  8. ↑ https://www.krone.at/3999845
  9. ↑ https://www.instagram.com/monaco_mariners
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