Italian Football League semifinals promise rematches and high stakes

The Italian Football League semifinals are set as the Firenze Guelfi host the Ancona Dolphins on Saturday while the Parma Panthers welcome the Torino Giaguari on Sunday, with two spots in the Italian Bowl 2026 on the line.

Both wild card winners advanced in convincing fashion last weekend, but the challenges ahead will be significantly tougher against the league’s top two seeds.

Saturday, June 20

Ancona Dolphins @ Firenze Guelfi

The semifinal in Firenze will be a rematch of last year’s Italian Bowl and features two teams that know each other well.

The return of quarterback Carter Cravens has transformed the Ancona Dolphins offense. Cravens played a major role in the wild card victory over the Legnano Frogs, throwing touchdown passes to Giovanni Zani and Cameren Grodhaus while helping the Dolphins score 45 points in one of the most entertaining games of the postseason.

Grodhaus returned to a more natural playmaking role with Cravens back under center, while Marco De Jesus delivered one of the game’s biggest defensive plays with a key interception in the fourth quarter.

Standing in their way are the defending champions, the Firenze Guelfi, who earned the top seed and the right to host the semifinal. The matchup brings together two explosive offenses and should provide one of the weekend’s most intriguing battles.

Sunday, June 2

Torino Giaguari @ Parma Panthers

Sunday’s semifinal in Colorno features two of the most established programs in Italian football.

The Parma Panthers are seeking another trip to the Italian Bowl and enter the game after a regular season that showcased their ability to score points in a variety of ways. Their experience in high-pressure playoff games remains one of their biggest strengths.

The Torino Giaguari arrive full of confidence after a dominant 42-10 wild card victory over the Ferrara Aquile. Ethan Greenfield powered the running game once again, while Riccardo Duranti balanced the offense with both his arm and his legs. Cameron Colangelo, Luciano Giuliani and Jacopo Salsa also played important roles in the victory.

The teams already met during the regular season, giving both coaching staffs a recent blueprint to study heading into this winner-take-all showdown.

Italian Bowl places up for grabs

Both semifinals feature contrasting styles, proven veterans and playmakers capable of changing a game with a single snap.

Whether it is the rematch between the Firenze Guelfi and Ancona Dolphins or the heavyweight clash between the Parma Panthers and Torino Giaguari, the weekend promises two games worthy of a place in the Italian Bowl.

Both games will be broadcast live here on American Football International via IFL LIVE with an IFL Pass subscription.