IFAF is counting down to 2026 by highlighting some of the memorable moments in international American football from the past twelve months.

Kicking off the look back at 2025, IFAF celebrates numerous standout performances from the world’s youth players in tackle and flag football.

In U19 tackle football Austria followed a bronze medal success at the 2024 IFAF U20 World Junior Championships in Canada by defending its European title for a third time in succession.

Austria was pushed all the way by a determined Swedish team in a thrilling title decider but eventually emerged as 34-31 winner.

Unbeaten on European soil since 2001, Austria trailed 28-24 in the fourth quarter having squandered a 17-point lead as Sweden capitalized on five turnovers. Sweden tied the game at 31-31 just before the two-minute warning, but home kicker Elija Heiss nailed a 43-yard field goal to secure victory and finally break a spirited Swedish challenge. It was a fitting end to a thrilling contest.

With Sweden settling for the silver medal, Finland claimed Europe’s bronze medal, while a resurgent Germany took fourth place with a stunning 88-0 win in Denmark. Sixth spot in the European standings went to Italy as they defeated Czechia 13-6.

In flag football, four nations - Austria, Egypt, Panama and China – hosted IFAF successful youth tournaments during 2025.

Austria welcomed 31 teams from 12 nations and more than 350 youth athletes to the Sportanlage Wiesengasse in the Tyrolean capital for the 2025 IFAF European Youth Flag Football Championships in September.

First held in 2016, the tournament showcases the progress of youth flag football across the continent as European nations develop talented athletes on the road to participation at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. The mixed competition for teams featuring athletes of both genders reflects flag football’s highly inclusive nature and is in line with trends for greater integration of male and female athletes in international sport.

“The flag football stars of tomorrow will compete for the right to call themselves European champions while they are recognized for being the best young talented players from their respective nations,” said IFAF President Pierre Trochet as the tournament began.

In the U17 Boys category, Spain won the battle of the tournament’s top-scoring teams and denied Israel a third straight IFAF European Youth Flag Football Championships title with a 34-14 victory in the gold medal game.

“The last game was awesome, but the whole competition was incredible,” said Spain head coach Christian García Delgado. “I’m so proud of our team because they gave everything that they had.”

Italy won the U17 Girls crown with a convincing 53-15 win over Germany as quarterback Aurora Vitalli and wide receiver Vittoria Zani connected four touchdowns. Sira Granelli had three interceptions as Italy’s defense also dominated.

Germany claimed the U15 Mixed title with a thrilling 51-42 victory over Slovakia having trailed until inside the two-minute warning. With the game tied at 36-36 Germany produced the only defensive stop of the game then capitalized as Daniel Bluel’s touchdown claimed his side’s first lead of the contest and Jonas Kamberg tagged on a crucial two-point conversion.

At the Africa Flag 2025 tournament, which was delivered in partnership with the NFL, among  a series of wraparound activities in Cairo was a continental NFL Flag youth championship played between U12 boys’ and girls’ teams from across Africa.

The IFAF Asia-Oceania Flag Football continental championships featured a U17 boys tournament played over a round robin format in Ningbo between China, Hong Kong, Korea and Kuwait.

The 2025 IFAF Americas Flag Football Continental Championships in Panama included a look at some of the sport’s stars of tomorrow as teams representing Guatemala, Mexico and Panama competed in three youth categories in Penomone.

At the U17 Girls level, Mexico took home the gold medal with a 24-19 win over host Panama having topped their group with a 4-0 record. Mexico also triumphed in the U17 Boys tournament with a 34-12 win over Panama having gone unbeaten in the group stages with four wins. Panama’s Rojo team took the U15 Girls title with a 13-6 win in the final over Panama Azul, who had led the group stages with a 3-1 record to Mexico’s 2-2 finish.