The IFAF Europe Champions League invitations were sent out to all the American football federations in Europe on October 15 and the deadline for applications to play in the 2016 tournament is November 15.
This past season, 12 teams competed from throughout Europe with Sweden’s Carlstad Crusaders ultimately winning the title.
A total of seven national club champions played in last year’s competition.
Five teams committed so far
So far this year five teams have confirmed that they will participate including the defending champions, the Crusaders, 2014 and 2015 runners up, Vukovi Belgrade from Serbia, France’s Thonon Black Panthers, the recently crowned Danish champion Triangle Razorbacks and the 2015 Polish finalists, the Wroclaw Panthers.
However, a large number of teams have expressed interest, among them apparently at least one team from Austria. If that were to happen it would be the first time a team from either of the top leagues in Germany or Austria would participate.
The tournament kicks off in mid April with four, three-team regional groups playing a round robin format. The four winners of these groups then meet in the IFAF Europe Champions League Final Four. Last year’s final was held in Belgrade, Serbia while the 2014 Final Four took place in Elancourt, France. The Vukovi Belgrade and the Thonon Black Panthers have made it to the Final Four both years the tournament has been held.