The Vienna Vikings (11-1), Munich Ravens (11-1), Stuttgart Surge (10-2), and Nordic Storm (10-2) clinched division titles and first-round byes, while the Rhein Fire (8-4) and Madrid Bravos (8-4) secured the final Wildcard spots in a tense Week 14 to complete the ELF’s six-team postseason field.
Division champions dominate
The Vienna Vikings locked the East Division and the playoff’s top seed with a 35-29 Week 14 win over the Paris Musketeers, ending the latter’s postseason hopes. The Munich Ravens claimed the South Division via a 49-26 rout of the Wrocław Panthers, earning the second seed. The Stuttgart Surge secured the West title in Week 13 with a 44-3 blowout of the Cologne Centurions, then closed their season with a 47-20 victory over the Fehérvár Enthroners. The Nordic Storm, the North Division champions, enter as the fourth seed despite late-season stumbles after starting 8-0.
Wildcard drama unfolds
The Rhein Fire edged into fifth place by defeating the Nordic Storm 27-19 in Week 14, capitalizing on the Storm’s second-half slump. The Madrid Bravos claimed the sixth seed with a 47-32 win over the Frankfurt Galaxy, a de facto playoff elimination game. The loss dashed Frankfurt’s hopes and solidified Madrid’s first postseason berth.
Playoff matchups and structure
The Wildcard Round (August 23–24) features the #6 Madrid Bravos at the #3 Stuttgart Surge and the #5 Rhein Fire at #4 Nordic Storm. Winners advance to face the top seeds in the semifinals (August 30–31): the lowest remaining seed visits the #1 Vienna Vikings, while the highest remaining seed travels to the #2 Munich Ravens. The ELF Championship Game will be held September 7 at MHP Arena in Stuttgart.
Storylines to watch
The Nordic Storm, in their inaugural ELF season, aim to rebound after late losses exposed defensive vulnerabilities. The Rhein Fire, the two-time defending champions, seek a historic three-peat despite their lowest seed since 2022. The Madrid Bravos’ high-powered offense, led by playoff debutants, faces a stern test against Stuttgart’s division-winning defense. Meanwhile, Vienna and Munich—both 11-1—leverage their byes to rest starters and strategize for potential championship clashes.
The postseason kicks off with Stuttgart and the Nordic Storm hosting Wildcard games, setting the stage for a month of high-stakes European football.