2025 European League of Football Season: Key Dates, Format, and Playoff Roadmap

| American Football | 05/04/2025

The European League of Football (ELF) kicks off its fifth season on May 17, 2025, with expanded ambitions, 16 teams spanning nine nations, and a championship climax set for September 7 at Stuttgart’s MHPArena—a 60,000-seat stadium poised to host the league’s grand finale.

Season Launch: Marquee Matchups
The opening weekend features heavyweight clashes, starting with defending champions Rhein Fire battling the Paris Musketeers in France. Simultaneously, debutants Madrid Bravos host the Hamburg Sea Devils in Spain, while the Panthers Wrocław face Hungary’s Fehérvár Enthroners. On May 18, marquee games include Cologne Centurions at Berlin Thunder, Frankfurt Galaxy at Stuttgart Surge, and a Central European derby as Raiders Tirol take on Munich Ravens.

Four Divisions, Continental Rivalries
The 2025 season divides teams into four geographic divisions:

  • North: Berlin Thunder, Hamburg Sea Devils, Nordic Storm (Copenhagen), Rhein Fire (Düsseldorf).
  • West: Cologne Centurions, Frankfurt Galaxy, Paris Musketeers, Stuttgart Surge.
  • South: Helvetic Mercenaries (Zurich), Madrid Bravos, Munich Ravens, Raiders Tirol (Innsbruck).
  • East: Fehérvár Enthroners, Panthers Wrocław, Prague Lions, Vienna Vikings.

Each team plays 12 games—six intra-division (home/away) and six interdivisional—enhancing regional rivalries while showcasing cross-border matchups.

Playoff Structure: Road to Stuttgart
Six teams qualify: four division champions and two wild-card runners-up. The top two division winners earn first-round byes and home-field advantage in the semifinals. The remaining four face off in the Wild Card Round (August 23–24), followed by semifinals (August 30–31) and the Championship Game in Stuttgart.

A League on the Rise
With its largest lineup yet and a marquee venue for the title game, the ELF solidifies its status as Europe’s premier gridiron competition. From Madrid’s debut to Rhein Fire’s title defense, the 2025 season promises high stakes, fierce rivalries, and a showcase of transcontinental talent.

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