Participating nations
As of the inaugural season (2025), the following national teams are scheduled to participate:
Additional teams may be invited or qualify for future editions.
| Gridiron-Nationenmeisterschaft (German), Campionato Internazionale di Football Americano (Italian) | |
|---|---|
| Tournament details | |
| Dates | 9 – 16 November 2025 |
| No. of nations | Three |
2026 → | |
The Gridiron Nations Championship (GNC) is an annual elite international men's American football competition organised independently by participating national federations in alignment with policy frameworks from the International Federation of American Football (IFAF). Modelled on the Six Nations Championship in rugby union, the GNC brings together foundational national teams to compete in a series of matches involving intercontinental play determining a global result.
The Gridiron Nations Championship was conceived in early 2025. The initiative was developed to revive and elevate competitive opportunities for senior men's national teams beyond the traditional IFAF World Championship cycle, which had been last held in 2015.
The first edition debuted in April 2025, featuring Canada, Italy, and Germany. On 19 April, Canada travelled to Sardinia defeating Italy 56-0 in what was later classified as an IFAF Friendly game. [1]
The series is scheduled for 9 November with Canada facing Italy at Velodromo Vigorelli in Milan. [2] [3] [4] On 16 November Canada travels to Germany for a game in Bochum. [5] The first result in the championship will be generated at the IFAF European Final Four in late October, where Germany, Italy along with Austria and Finland are scheduled for competition.
Ultimately, the GNC is positioned for world invitational championship play, raising the profile of tackle football globally, fostering collaboration among national federations.
The competition format combines regional play and cross-continental showcase games. Inaugural scheduling includes:
The GNC was designed to:
As of the inaugural season (2025), the following national teams are scheduled to participate:
Additional teams may be invited or qualify for future editions.
The GNC is supported by international broadcast agreements and promotional partnerships developed by the participating federations. Each federation is responsible for marketing home fixtures, while collective content is distributed globally through social and digital media platforms.