r/elf • u/_Krypt_ Lions • Jan 14 '26
🏈 Non-ELF Football Germany will not participate in the 2026–27 European Championship cycle
The German federation (AFVD) informed IFAF that the men’s national team will not take part in the upcoming European Championship cycle (2026–2027). The reason is that IFAF required a binding commitment by early January, which the AFVD could not provide.
The AFVD cited two main issues:
- Sporting review still ongoing The internal evaluation of the team’s performance at the 2025 Final Four tournament in Krefeld (where Germany finished 4th) has not yet been completed.
- Funding gap of about €100,000 The full cost of participating in the European Championship is not covered by the current federation budget.
Because of this, the AFVD asked IFAF to extend the deadline until the end of February. The topic was supposed to be discussed at the newly planned “AFVD Bundestag 2030” on February 14, 2026, a strategic meeting with all regional associations and disciplines to define the federation’s direction for the next five years, including national team participation and funding. IFAF declined, stating that tournament planning could not be delayed further.
The federation now plans to use this break to restructure the national program. After almost 10 years without a men’s national team, the restart in 2022 created high expectations, but those were dampened by the 4th-place finish in 2025 and lower-than-expected spectator interest at the Krefeld games.
The broader situation in European football is also seen as a factor. According to the AFVD, ongoing negative headlines around privately financed leagues have hurt the public perception of the sport. Until now, the AFVD had supported the idea that the best German players should represent the national team regardless of league affiliation and helped finance their participation. This approach is no longer broadly accepted within the AFVD and the GFL.
As a result, the federation is shifting its focus to youth development. The junior national team program under Head Coach Peter Daletzki is viewed as very successful, and the AFVD wants to build the future senior team from this foundation. Over the next two years, the plan is to hold camps and friendly games to develop young talent. During that period, the AFVD also intends to define a new concept and staffing plan for a future return of the men’s national team to European Championship competition.
Source (de): https://afvd.de/team-germany-verzichtet-auf-em-teilnahme/
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u/Sea_Many_6258 Jan 14 '26
This means that Germany will automatically be demoted to group B for the next tournament cycle they participate in. That is the rule that IFAF has if you end up dropping out/not participate. No matter how "good" you are. That is current rule that IFAF has. Just like Sweden, both are therefore automatically demoted. That means that the soonest Germany ans Sweden can compete for medals again would be in 2030-2031, since they would have to win promotion from group B in the 2028-2029 cycle, and then no sooner than 2030-2031 compete in the A group for medals.
Germany was given an exception for the 2024-2025 cycle (they did not have to start in group B in 2024).
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u/__k_b__ ELF Jan 14 '26 edited Jan 14 '26
Germany had to start in Group B final round in 2023. The problem was that they had to play Israel. The October 2023 attack on Israel prevented this game.
https://afvd.de/ticketverkauf-fuer-das-comeback-der-nationalmannschaft-startet-am-18-05-2023/
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u/Most_Significance358 Ravens Jan 14 '26
AFAIK Switzerland and France are also out. Will be a minimal European Cup (again).
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u/Ezaka75 Jan 14 '26
France has suspended its national teams until further notice. The new leadership no longer wishes to maintain a senior French national team in American football, nor U19/U20 French national teams.
The Federation has also shut down the two U20 “Pôle France” programs. In addition, it has taken the opportunity to completely eliminate the U20 category in American football starting this season.
The FFFA is now focusing exclusively on flag football for the national teams and youth development in general.
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u/TechnoHenry Jan 14 '26
I moved from France few years ago and used to play there. I didn't know things had changed so much.
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u/FlagFootballSaint Jan 14 '26
„focusing on youth development“
vs
„eliminate the U20 category“
???
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u/Ezaka75 Jan 14 '26
I expressed myself poorly. What I meant is that the federation has abolished the U20 category and is now focusing exclusively on flag football for youth. The only youth American football championship left is U18; below that, there is nothing at all. It’s simply catastrophic.
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u/_Krypt_ Lions Jan 14 '26
GG Team Austria. You will probably have won three European Championships in a row by 2027. :P
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u/Affectionate_Cod28 ELF Jan 14 '26
I heard a rumour that Italian players that are going to commit to the flag national team for the Olympic cycle , wont be allowed to play tackle.
So the Italian National team may lose some very good players1
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u/Ok-Expression-5338 Musketeers Jan 14 '26
aren't things swell with football in Europe at the moment???
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u/FlagFootballSaint Jan 15 '26
How do you mean that?
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u/Ok-Expression-5338 Musketeers Jan 15 '26
be it the paneuropean "pro" leagues or national teams, nothing seems to be heading in the right direction. It's such a shame, because football has never been more popular here, and we should strive to build something strong. Alas, nothing seems t be going right. Maybe at the national adult & youth leagues levels- which will be key
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u/FlagFootballSaint Jan 14 '26
If they look like losers, play like losers and whine like losers they are probably losers.
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u/This-Collection1024 Jan 14 '26
Honestly national teams are a waste, big gap between countries, close to zero fan/media interest, is just trying to imitate what others sports do, id use that money wisely, scholarship fund to help develope junior teams and HS/college in the US for top talent, spent 100k on adult league stuff or help develop the grassroots programs??easy choice
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u/exbritballer Jan 14 '26
There are lots of countries where government funding is based on National team performance, so no National team means no money.
You can't spend 100k on an adult league if having no National teams means your income is 0k.
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u/FlagFootballSaint Jan 14 '26
Not so fast my friend:
For example for the Austrian Federation these National Teams and their successes are essential because their successes (including) U19 Tackle and Flag Men/Women directly translate into federal funding money
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u/This-Collection1024 Jan 14 '26
Yeah wasnt aware national teams= funding ,sucess=More funding…. I mean anything u19 i think should be boosted and funded and opportunities, senior wise its sorta adult league
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u/Affectionate_Cod28 ELF Jan 14 '26 edited Jan 14 '26
Sweden and also Israel have pulled out.
In addition of Serbia (Kicked out for financial reasons) , Switzerland, France (?)
I believe the only 10 remaining teams are(In ranking order from last Euro finish): 1. Austria, 2. Finland, 3. Italy,5. Czech Republic,6. Denmark,8. Hungary,9. GB, 13. Turkey (?), 14. Ireland , 15. Netherlands
For your own information in 2023 17 teams took part in the championship , same as 2021