Canada set to face Germany in the Gridiron Nations Championship

Canada will travel to Germany this fall to conclude the inaugural Gridiron Nations Championship (GNC) on November 16, 2025, at Lohrheidestadion – Wattenscheid in Bochum, Germany.

The Gridiron Nations Championship is an international men’s tackle football competition, developed by participating national teams for world competition. The inaugural edition features Canada, Italy, and Germany in a three-team competition format spanning from April to November 2025.

The winner of the GNC will be determined by overall record, with the November fixture in Germany serving as the potential title decider. If all three teams finish with one win and one loss, tiebreakers will be applied based on point differential.

On April 19, Canada shut out Italy 56–0 in Cagliari, Sardinia, where True North dominated in every aspect of the game. Canada’s suffocating defence held Italy to –9 total yards, while the offense exploded for multiple scores. With a roster composed of CFL alumni and U Sports veterans, Team Canada showed its readiness to re-enter global competition after more than a decade of dormancy.

Germany — known as “The Men in Black” — now await the Canadians on home soil. A perennial powerhouse in European play, Germany claimed gold in the 2001, 2010 and 2014 IFAF European Championship. They have also claimed silver three times in the Euros as West Germany in 1987, and in 2000 and 2005. They also earned bronze in the World Championships in 2003 and 2007. Backed by one of Europe’s strongest domestic leagues — the German Football League (GFL) — Germany remains a formidable force in global play.

“Germany is proud to host this landmark international game on home soil,” said AFVD Vice President Andreas Kelgemann. “This competition elevates the profile of European football and gives our national team an opportunity to measure itself against world class opposition. The 2025 GNC is a key platform for the future of international tackle football.”

Germany and Italy will also compete in the 2025 IFAF European Championships, beginning October 25, with Germany opening against Austria and Italy facing Finland. Should Germany and Italy not meet in the European final, their head-to-head results in the GNC will be used to determine the championship outcome.

“A championship like this is essential for the growth of the sport,” said Team Canada head coach Jesse Maddox. “We’re excited to take on a top-tier program like Germany creating a new starting point and championship within a global competition. The Nations Championship is exactly what international football needs — regular, meaningful games between national teams. It provides an opportunity for us to go for gold in 2025.”

Canada’s senior men’s team, which has only appeared once in the IFAF World Championship (earning silver in 2011), has been revived after a long absence. Canada’s junior men’s program has won three straight IFAF U20 World Championships, and the GNC represents a new pathway for global competition at the senior level.