Long before the NFL played regular season games in London, Munich, or Madrid, it tried something far bolder: building entire professional franchises on European soil. In July 1989, NFL owners approved the creation of the World League of American Football, a genuinely transatlantic experiment and the first time the league had ever tried to plant a professional, developmental version of itself outside North America. When the WLAF kicked off on March 23, 1991, ten teams took th

The curtain has fallen on the regular season, and as tradition dictates, the council gathers one last time. The grades are in, the exam papers have been marked, and it’s time to see which teams proudly move to the top of the class, which barely scraped a passing grade, and which will be stuck in detention until next year. We could have done that division by division to hand out the grades, but here’s a little spoiler for the impatient: nobody really shone across the board. Ea

As every year, Dublin dressed up to host a new edition of the Aer Lingus College Football Classic. Shop windows and pubs across the city were adorned with the vibrant colors of the universities: the red of Iowa State and the purple of Kansas State blended into every corner. Yet this time there was something truly special in the air: for the first time, the Aviva Stadium would host a game officially considered a rivalry — the storied Farmageddon. This is one of the oldest and

Almost a month later, First Down Mag is back with some news on Italian Football during the offseason. The Italian Movement is running wild despite the forced stop after the end of the Senior championships in July. Now the focus is on the national Flag Football teams playing in both The World Games and in the Euros in September, while the Junior Tackle Championships will start in less than two months, while the National Tackle team will face a new challenge in November. ...

And with that, the 2025 BAFA Premiership regular season comes to an end, making this not only the last power ranking of the year, but also the playoff preview (where we’ll begin), and we’ll have a look at the promotion picture as it stands. Playoffs Set In my first ranking of the season, I outlined this weekend’s fixtures as being an unmissable part of the playoff race, and while there weren’t any huge surprises, it definitely didn’t disappoint. In the first match of the w

And just like that, the regular season of Europe’s premier league has come to an end. It’s been one of the most thrilling campaigns yet, but before the playoffs begin, let’s take one last look back at everything that unfolded. 1st. Vienna Vikings 11-1 What a season, huh? In one of the decisive games, they completely crushed the Parisians’ ambition of reaching the playoffs. But it was far from an easy task, the battle went all the way to overtime before they could finally s

While everyone is wondering which teams still have a shot at the playoffs, we turned to ELFpedia.eu for some clarity, using math, not guesswork. ELF Pedia is a data-driven platform that provides valuable insights and up-to-date resources like current rosters, standings, and stats, which we often rely on for our coverage. Here’s how they broke down the playoff odds and who’s still in the race… and who’s not: “We applied a probabilistic forecasting model using one million Mont

The playoff race is now well underway, with several compelling games already in the books. Which teams have climbed the standings, and which have lost ground? Here’s a closer look. Every next game is mentioned as “next-week” but obviously it’s after the league-around bye-week...

In 2025, American football in the UK is set for a seismic shake-up with the arrival of new 5 aside contact tournament — an electrifying new 5v5 format designed to deliver fast-paced, high-energy action for players and fans. The concept? A one-day tournament featuring 8 teams battling it out, with the winners walking away with a cool £2,000 cash prize. The name of this new Tournament? Elite 5s. Elite 5s is the brainchild of three Britballers who first crossed paths at U19s

The amazing Austrian Football League just wrapped up with an exciting final and if you managed to miss such a nerve-wracking game, here is everything that you need to know. THE FIRST QUARTER The quarter started out quiet with no points scored for each team, until the Vikings defence started slipping. The first Touchdown was made by the Danube Dragons runningback Lukas Schlemm and after a successful PAT the Dragons were up 7-0. with 10 seconds left of the first quarter, Devi

We are back. After the BAFA Coaching Convention gave us a week without any Britball fixtures, the penultimate round of Premiership fixtures were played this week, and our four playoff teams are now confirmed - so let’s jump straight into it...

Another amazing week of action across European football fields has come to a conclusion. Some teams are charging full speed ahead, while others have seen their dreams come to an early end. Is your team still in the running, or have they already been shown the door? Let’s break it all down together and take a closer look at who’s rising, who’s falling, and what it means for the road ahead. 1st. Vienna Vikings Another dominant showing from the Austrian squads, further cement

We’re hitting the middle of the German Football League (GFL) season, and the playoff picture is starting to take shape. Some teams are dominating, others are fighting for survival, and a few are still trying to figure out their identity. Here’s where every team stands right now: 1) Dresden Monarchs The Monarchs could very well keep their dominant run alive. With every game won by large margins, they’re holding the number one spot firmly and showing no signs of slowing down.

From jaw-dropping plays to unexpected upsets, the weekend delivered all the drama and excitement fans could hope for. Now, it’s time to dive into the highs and lows, the standout performances and the surprising slip-ups. Are you ready to take a closer look at all the ups and downs from this past weekend on the gridiron? ...

The playoffs of the Austrian Football League, one of the most competitive leagues in the world just came to a close and here is everything you need to know if you missed the games and want to know what’s waiting for you in the finals. Two games in one weekend and four teams wanting to come out on top while only two of them are going to be in the finals. Welcome to the Austrian Bowl playoffs review...

The Italian Football League has come to an end as Guelfi Firenze have beaten the Ancona Dolphins 49-14 to take their second Italian Bowl in the team’s history. With that, though, the offseason has just started. Right up until the start of the 2026 season in February, First Down Mag will inform you about all the movements in the IFL by all teams and around the league...

A (POSSIBLE) NEW DYNASTY We might have a new dynasty on our hands. The Carlstad Crusaders were Swedish champions for 8 years in a row between 2010 and 2017 and HC Christian Forsman might have just restored that old glory with a second consecutive title. Crusaders key players seem to be going nowhere and they are reinforcing their strong homegrown squad with clever (and long-term) import choices each season. As we see what unfolds in the offseason, we could be looking at yet

The game kicked off with high intensity, as Cowbells quickly drove into field goal range on their opening possession, only to be denied by a blocked kick from the Bulldogs special teams. That didn’t faze the home team, though: they bounced back immediately and capped their next drive with a well-timed quarterback run for a touchdown. The Bulldogs, however, wouldn’t back down. They methodically moved the ball downfield, and although standout S Komiszár — who’s had a stellar se

The 2025 TKFL regular season has officially come to an end, and what a final week it was. While the last round of games brought clarity to the standings, it also brought emotion, surprises, and a high level of football. The regular season wrapped up with postponed and rescheduled games, and the playoffs kicked off shortly after with two big-time semi-final matchups. We also saw the playout game and the Division 2 finish, deciding promotions and relegations. Here’s everything

Curious about what made headlines last week and what’s coming up in the days ahead? You’ve come to the right place. Whether you missed the action or just want a quick recap, we’ve got you covered. From standout moments and major upsets to what’s on the radar for the next few days, we’re diving into all the key highlights and upcoming stories you need to know. So sit back, get comfortable, and let’s take a closer look at the past week, and what’s waiting just around the corner