Just days after the European League of Football (ELF) and the European Football Alliance (EFA) announced a landmark reunification agreement, a new challenger has entered the scene, signaling that the landscape of professional American football in Europe remains deeply divided. The American Football League Europe (AFLE), which is claimed to be backed by five years of secured funding from a U.S.-based family office, has launched with a promise of “stability and transparency,” positioning itself as an alternative to the newly consolidated — but still unproven — ELF-EFA structure.
A unified front, but a divided future
The timing of the AFLE’s announcement is highly strategic. The recently solidified ELF-EFA agreement established a shared governance model, with a Board of Governors comprising teams and shareholders now overseeing league operations, planning, and expansion. This move was intended to end instability and align the interests of historically powerful clubs like the Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns (Germany), Tirol Raiders (Austria), and La Courneuve Flash (France) under one banner. However, the sudden emergence of the AFLE suggests that not all stakeholders are convinced this new model offers the fresh start European football needs.
AFLE’s promise: Structure over politics
While the ELF-EFA coalition is still finalizing its 2026 competition format and team lineup, the AFLE has apparently entered the market with a fully operational structure. Based in Hamburg and led by experienced football operator Frank Wendorf, the league has already staffed core departments—football operations, broadcasting, marketing, and IT—and announced committed franchises across Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Monaco, Poland, and the UK. This stands in stark contrast to the ELF-EFA’s ongoing “joint working groups,” which are still determining fundamental elements like scheduling and venue standards.
Two visions for the future
The competition now represents two distinct approaches. The ELF-EFA model relies on a unified, club-driven governance structure designed to give teams direct control. The AFLE, by contrast, is leveraging private, long-term capital to build a centrally operated league free from the internal politics and past inconsistencies that have plagued European football. Its promise of financial security for players and clubs—a sharp rebuke of the instability that originally sparked the EFA breakaway—is its strongest selling point.
An uncertain road ahead
The existence of the AFLE ensures that the reunification of the ELF and EFA does not equal unification for the sport. Instead, European clubs, players, and fans would now seem to face a choice between two competing visions: the collaborative, team-led model of the ELF-EFA or the funded, centrally run enterprise of the AFLE. With both leagues targeting similar markets and talent, the coming months will likely see intense competition for clubs, broadcast partnerships, and fan allegiance. For a sport long seeking stability, the path forward has suddenly become more complex—and more competitive—than ever.