The Wild Card round of the 2025 French D1 Elite playoffs kicks off this weekend. Six teams have advanced to the post season which culminates in the 29th Casque de Diamant final on June 28 at Stade Jacques Delors in Chambéry.
Conference champions await semifinals
The Thonon-les-Bains Black Panthers (North) and Cannes Iron Mask (South) secured first-round byes as conference winners. Both teams will debut in the semifinals on June 7 and 14, facing wild-card round survivors.
Wild card matchups locked in
The opening playoff stage kicks off May 24 with two elimination games: The North’s Flash La Courneuve host Grizzlys Catalans, while South rivals the Toulouse Ours clash with Asnières-sur-Seine Molosses. The winners advance to challenge the conference titans.
Road to the Casque de Diamant
Semifinal victors will meet in the championship game on June 28, aiming to claim France’s top football honor. The defending champion Black Panthers, seeking a three-peat, and the Iron Mask, eyeing a chance to capture the crown in only their second year in the top league, remain favorites—but wild-card contenders could upend expectations.
2025 D1 Elite playoff bracket
- May 24 (Wild Card): Flash La Courneuve vs. Grizzlys Catalans; Ours Toulouse vs. Molosses Asnières-sur-Seine
- June 7/14 (Semifinals): Black Panthers vs. Ours/Molosses winner; Iron Mask vs. Flash/Grizzlys winner
- June 28 (Final): Champions crowned in Chambéry
Source: The Playoffs