The international tackle football season gets underway in Europe a month from now on April 4 when six nations kick off the 2026/27 IFAF U19 European Championships during an action-packed weekend.
In Group A, Austria bids to add to seven titles won in the past eight competitions among a field of 10 nations compared with seven in the last cycle. The defending champion travels to the Municipal Football Field in Calatayud, Zaragoza to take on Spain.
Austria boasts a storied history at the youth level and has been dominant on the European continent since 2011. Austria captured the bronze medal at the 2024 IFAF U20 World Junior Championships in Edmonton, Canada, when they became the first European team to defeat a North American team, beating USA 32-25 in the third-place game. Last year they secured the European title with a 34-31 win as a field goal inside the two-minute warning finally quelled a spirited Sweden.
Spain returns after a period away from competing at the youth level. Spain’s best Euros finish was fourth place back in 1996 in a bronze medal game loss to Germany.
All four Group C teams are in action as Finland hosts Poland at the MUP-Stadion in Vantaa, while Germany has conceded home field advantage to travel to Enthroners Field, in Szekesfehervar to face Hungary.
Finland is a three-time U19s champion having won the inaugural title in 1992 and successfully defended the crown in 1994 and 1996. The Finns have won the bronze medal at the past two tournaments. It was Germany who first dethroned Finland in 1998 and went on to win two straight titles and their third and final success in 2008 and their last medal a silver in 2015.
Poland and Hungary will play the role of underdogs and aspire to become giantkillers as they enter the IFAF U19 European Championships for the first time.
The action in Group B will not begin until the weekend of May 9/10 when Italy hosts Israel in Firenze. Israel has been awarded a 1-0 win over Sweden who confirmed on January 18 that they would forfeit the opening game that was due to be played in Israel.
The next group games will take place in May and September of 2026 with teams playing home and away games. The group winners will advance to a round robin series of games in March, May and September of 2027 to decide the 2026/27 European champions, with other teams contesting placement games.
IFAF U19 European Championships
Group A: Austria (1 seed), Czechia (6), Spain (7) Group B: Sweden (2), Italy (5), Israel (8) Group C: Finland (3), Germany (4), Hungary (9), Poland (10) * The serpentine method was used to determine groups based on 2024/25 finish and nations that did not enter in 2024/25 were drawn into random ranking spots.
IFAF U19 European Championships Schedule
Saturday, April 4 Group A Spain vs Austria Group B Israel 1 Sweden 0 (Sweden forfeit) Group C Finland vs Poland Germany vs Hungary (hosted by Hungary)
May 9/10 Group A: Czechia vs Spain Group B: Italy vs Israel
September 19/20 Group A: Austria vs Czechia Group B: Sweden vs Italy Group C: Winner vs Winner / Loser vs Loser
2027
March 27/28/29 Group 1-3: C1 vs A1 Group 4-6: A2 vs C2 Group 7-10: SF1 / SF2
May 8/9 Group 1-3: B1 vs C1 Group 4-6: B2 vs A2
September 18/19 Group 1-3: A1 vs B1 Group 4-6: C2 vs B2 Group 7-10: 7th-8th Place / 9th-10th Place
Photo: AFVD
