The pivotal weekend of games in the 2025/26 IFAF Women’s European Championships in tackle football features two critical clashes at the end of May as all four nations battle for a place in the final.

Finland (2-0) currently leads the standings as the tournament’s only unbeaten team with defending champion Spain (1-1) and Germany (1-1) on their shoulder while Great Britain (0-2) seeks a first win. In August, the top two teams will contest the gold medal while the third and fourth placed nations will play for bronze.

Great Britain vs Germany Nick Newbold Stadium, Coventry Sunday, May 31, 2pm UK time Watch Live: https://www.youtube.com/@bafaofficial

Great Britain is still alive in the race but needs a win against Germany at the Nick Newbold Stadium in Coventry paired with a Finland victory to force a three-way tiebreaker to decide second place. The Brits opened with a 6-3 overtime loss at home to Finland then surrendered a 13-point lead in Spain, falling to a 26-22 defeat.

“We’re looking forward to the challenge,” says Laura Moore who will make her debut in charge of the Lionesses as the British American Football Association’s first female head coach. “They’re a physical team, they’re well drilled. Being 1-1 somewhat puts them in the driving seat because we’re 0-2 but we’re focused and have been working hard over the last couple of months to come together as a new team.

“It always gives you an advantage to have a home crowd behind you and we’re hopeful we’ll have a good crowd and a good amount of noise which is always good for both teams.

“It’s been a challenge for myself, coming into the role only at the turn of the year, bringing in a new coaching staff, looking at the position we were at in the tournament so far being 0-2. The challenge is how can we change that moving forward, how do we turn the dial and how do we come to the end of the game being 1-2?

“Then a chance to play for the gold: it’s what everybody wants. You don’t go into these tournaments just to show up. Everybody wants the opportunity to take home the top prize. We very much know that we’re the underdog. We’re also very much aware that the opportunity relies upon  the result in the other game that’s happening, but we’re focused on what we can control. Certainly, what we can control is our execution, our gameplan, turning up and doing what we need to do.”

Germany followed up a 21-7 opening game loss in Finland with an impressive 22-7 home win over reigning champion Spain as running back Stella Elise Martin scored two touchdowns. Germany also has a new coaching staff leading the bid to reach the title game.

“All of this has cost us a lot of energy over the past weeks and months, but it is exactly that kind of adversity that brings a team together,” said head coach Sebastian Ayernschmalz.

“Now we are travelling to Great Britain, and the excitement in the team is huge. Great Britain is a strong nation with a lot of experience at this level – we are well aware of their strengths as a side, and we approach this challenge with full respect. It will be a hard piece of work, no question.

“But we are highly motivated. The gold medal is still within reach, and that is the driving force for every single player and every coach on this staff. We have the quality; we have the will and we are going to give everything to deliver a strong performance.”

The story so far:

Finland 21 Germany 7: Two-time European champion Finland opened with a 21-7 home victory over Germany. Quarterback Lea Kaszas threw two touchdown passes in the win to Aino Joro and Suvi Partanen after team MVP Oona Saarinen’s interception had edged the hosts ahead on the first play of the second quarter.

Great Britain 3 Finland 6 (OT): Finland secured a second straight win with a 6-3 overtime road win. After four scoreless quarters it was the hosts who broke the deadlock with a 27-yard field goal by Eilidh Currie. The 3-0 overtime lead challenged the Finns to match that score on its possession in reply and quarterback Pia Konsonen handed off three times for teenage running back Tytti Kuusinen to earn gains to the GB five-yard mark. She then took the ball to within a yard of the end zone before powering up the middle for the winning touchdown.

Germany 22 Spain 7: Running back Stella Elise Martin scored two touchdowns her first coming before Spain recovered a fumble to set up quarterback Victoria Ortega to hit Natalia Porras for a 30-yard touchdown to tie the game. Germany led 9-7 going into halftime through a Jennifer Gerndt field goal. Martin extended Germany’s lead with a 31-yard touchdown dash Maike Barnebeck put the result beyond doubt with a late touchdown catch from Deborah Joachim after a botched field goal attempt.

Spain 26 Great Britain 22: Spain recovered from a 13-point first quarter deficit and trailed by four points at halftime and again late in the game before scoring a 65-yard touchdown for the victory. GB running back Siobhan Walker scored two early touchdowns before a safety switched the momentum as Elena Munoz later went in untouched for a touchdown. Spain capitalized on Nuria Ortega recovering a fumbled punt return at the Great Britain 35-yard mark as Cortes hit Natalia Porras for a 20-yard touchdown catch.Eilidh Curry took the ball into the end zone to tie the game at 19-19 and a Curry field goal opened a 22-19 lead Spain’s response was spectacular as a 60-yard touchdown pass to Terol reclaimed the lead at 26-22 and the home defense held at the end to preserve victory.

Standings: Finland 2-0 Germany 1-1 Spain 1-1 Great Britain 0-2

IFAF Women’s European Championships 2025/26