American Football in Europe: Touchdown Across the Pond

As we all know by now, “football” means two different things to the American and European sports fan, and casual observers in the continent have made remarks of how unusual the game is in their eyes. In Britain, for instance, it has been seen by some as a comically less violent version of rugby (to be completely fair, rugby is violent enough as it is).

However, this unfamiliarity hasn’t stopped the game from gaining a foothold in Europe. The game they call gridiron has cultivated a robust fanbase in what was traditionally a soccer-obsessed region, with enough fans creating a thriving American football scene across several European countries. Exhibition matches between teams have resulted in incredible turnouts, such as a sold-out match between the Dallas Cowboys and the Jacksonville Jaguars at Wimbledon Stadium.

       Image source: qz.com

And the Europeans are not just mere spectators. Teams, governed by organizations like the European Federation of American Football, have emerged across several countries in the continent which face off in competitions like the Eurobowl and the European Championship.

Image source: eurobowl.info

For organizers, Europe is still a major region for expansion. The demand is high enough that the National Football League (NFL), itself one of the main promoters of the sport in that corner of the world, has considered re-establishing a franchise in London. The NFL has previously supported a full-on branch in Europe, with teams playing from Germany and the Netherlands up until 2007.

This fanbase did not escape the attention of dedicated followers from the other side of the pond, though not a few of them look with amusement at the creative names adopted by the gridiron fans in Europe. The names of the many football teams in Europe often reflect the region’s history and cultural legacy, with a few of them, such as the Waterloo Warriors, being somewhat tongue-in-cheek in their naming.

Jason Goldblatt here. For more updates on all things football, follow me on Twitter.

American football abroad: Europe’s increasing fondness of the gridiron

The NFL may be watched “only” in the U.S. or Canada and could even be understood only by North Americans. However, it’s fast gaining traction in other countries as well. Particularly in soccer-centric Europe, the fondness for the gridiron is finally taking off. France, Spain, Germany, the U.K., and Poland are all enthusiastic American football audiences. Hooray!

Image source: mmqb.si.com

For Europeans, gridiron is a weird sport. It’s called American football, but players seldom (or never) kick the ball. The pitch is also marked with plenty of lines and numbers that they barely understand. Unlike soccer, rules are much easier to comprehend, and the pitch has fewer visual distractions.

At the Oneida High School, exchange students from France and Spain enjoyed their first taste of American football. While they still prefer soccer, playing America’s most popular sport was not bad at all.

In Poland, U.S.-born coach Brad Arbon was hired to supervise and train players of the Polish national team. The country’s strong dedication toward the sport is eminent in its growing number of American football programs especially designed for its citizens.

Image source: thenews.pl

Outside the U.S., Germany is perhaps the best playing country for American football. There are currently about 500 teams playing the sport in Deutschland, from youth flag football to the senior semi-professional level. According to German Football League chairman Carsten Dalkowski, half the people playing American football throughout Europe come from Germany.

My name is Jason Goldblatt and I have been watching, following, and writing about American football for many years. True-blue fan here. Subscribe to my blog for more articles about this amazing sport.