Week 9 Maple League preview: Playoff race tightens in Finland

AFI | American Football | 08/06/2026

With only two weeks remaining in the Finnish Maple League regular season, every game has playoff implications. Seinäjoki moved into first place with last week’s 31-9 victory over Wasa, while the defending champion Helsinki Roosters climbed from sixth to fourth after extending their winning streak to three games. The idle Kuopio Steelers slipped to second despite their 5-2 record, and the Porvoon Butchers remain within striking distance of the top. Week 9 features three games that could reshape both the battle for first place and the race for the postseason.

Friday August 7

East City Giants (2-6) @ Porvoon Butchers (4-2)

The Butchers host the Giants looking to complete a season sweep after edging East City 34-32 in Week 2. That early victory could prove significant if tiebreakers come into play over the final weeks. The Giants are coming off a hard-fought loss to the Roosters and need a win to keep their slim playoff hopes alive, while Porvoo cannot afford to lose ground in the race for the regular-season title.

Saturday, August 8

Wasa Royals (2-4) @ Helsinki Roosters (3-3)

The Roosters have won three straight and suddenly look like one of the league’s hottest teams, but the Royals already showed they can slow them down. Wasa claimed a 15-6 victory in the teams’ first meeting earlier this season, giving Helsinki added motivation for Saturday’s rematch. The Royals need a win to stay in the playoff chase, while the defending champions have a chance to continue their climb up the standings.

Seinäjoki Crocodiles (5-1) @ Kuopio Steelers (5-2)

The weekend’s marquee matchup features the league’s top two teams and marks the first of back-to-back meetings between the Steelers and Crocodiles. With first place and potential home-field advantage still up for grabs, these two games could determine the regular-season champion. Seinäjoki enters atop the standings after last week’s win over Wasa, while Kuopio returns from a bye looking to reclaim first place on its home field.