Great Britain, Spain and Austria are the champions of Europe in the three age categories of the 2026 IFAF European Youth Flag Football Championships having claimed victories in three exciting finals at the Stadio Hilderaldo Luiz Bellini di Comacchio in Italy.
Great Britain built an unassailable 27-point lead to eventually triumph 33-7 over Germany, adding the U17 Girls crown to a pair of IFAF European championships won by the women’s team in 2023 and 2025.
Spain mounted a comeback to score on fourth down with only 23 seconds on the clock and then came up with an interception in the end zone as time expired to beat Israel 32-31 and claim the U17 Boys title.
Austria are the Mixed U15 champions having outlasted Team Euro Youth 59-40 in a high-scoring battle as they led throughout and held of the comeback attempt of TEY.
The tournament MVPs were Great Britain quarterback Lydia Whitestone (U17 Girls), Spain wide receiver Iván Escudero Gómez (U17 Boys) and Austria wide receiver Paul Barina (U15 Mixed).
“As we develop IFAF continental youth competition around the world, the IFAF European Youth Flag Football Championships continue to serve as a model and a barometer of the sport’s rapid global growth,” said IFAF President Pierre Trochet. “This year has been another record-breaker, with more competing teams and nations than ever – and a level of play that reflects new investment allied to the powerful inspiration of flag football’s Olympic debut.
“Massive congratulations to all the medalists – and to our host federation FIDAF, whose exemplary organization and commitment to this tournament over many years has helped to establish it as a benchmark for the future of youth flag football. From everything I have seen here in Italy, the next generation of flag is going to rock the world!”
Eight out of the nine medals awarded to teams finishing in first, second and third place in their respective categories were won by different nations. Great Britain, Spain, Austria (all gold), Germany, Israel, Team Euro Youth (all silver), Czechia, Italy, and Spain (all bronze) earned podium finishes. All scores and final standings are available on IFAF Play: https://ifaf.play.sport/tournaments/eyc26
The sport’s stars of tomorrow competed in Lido delle Nazioni near Ferrara, Italy, from September 24 to 26 with a record number of 33 teams representing 14 nations. 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.
Girls U17 Gold Medal Game: Great Britain 33 Germany 7
Quarterback Lydia Whitestone threw five touchdown passes and four extra points with receivers Aisa Kasenge and Isabelle Olerenshaw each catching two scores as Great Britain opened a 27-point lead that set them on the way to the U17 Girls gold medal.
GB led 21-0 when Caitlin Brown came up with an interception to halt any hopes Germany had of scoring before halftime. Germany did get points on the board when quarterback Emma Kimmelmann found Ewa Aichholz in the end zone, but Great Britain replied immediately with a Whitestone to Hannah Winter connection.
Tow close semifinals earlier on Saturday had seen Great Britain edge Spain 19-18 and Germany claim an equally narrow 14-13 win over Czechia.
Boys U17 Gold Medal Game: Spain 32 Israel 31
Spain recovered from two early scores down to Israel to win the U17 Boys gold medal in a thrilling final. Trailing by six points with 23 seconds remaining on fourth down quarterback Ivan Escudero Gómez fired a third touchdown pass of the second half to Antonio Valverde Ortega to level the contest at 31-31. Escudero Gómez then reeled in the extra point himself in the corner of the end zone to lead by a solitary point.
Israel still had six seconds to work with and after a defensive penalty took them to within 14 yards of the end zone with time having expired had one shot at glory. Spain shut them out as Iker Delgado Sanz came up with a game-winning interception in the end zone.
Israel quarterback Benjamin Kozadayev threw five touchdowns in the narrow loss with Max Label Eisenberg and Boaz Raab each reeling in two scores. Earlier on Saturday, Israel had beaten host Italy 30-20 in the semifinals and Spain defeated Finland 45-38.
U15 Mixed Gold Medal Game: Austria 59 Team Euro Youth 40
A shootout saw Austria beat Team Euro Youth 59-40 to win the Mixed U15 crown. Austria led 12-0 early in the game, leaving TEY to play catch up throughout and while they pulled to within six points late in the first half, the Austrian youngsters prevailed.
Quarterback Fabio Mikula threw eight touchdown passes with four of those to Paul Barina and a pair to Timo Pürkfellner. For Team Euro Youth, Egor Shumskikh passed for three touchdowns and Maksim Karasev threw two, with Margarita Ratashniuk and Arina Zinchenko leading the way with two scoring grabs each.
“It’s a really great team of players, not just athletically but also with their team spirit, which I’ve rarely seen before,” said Austria head coach Cameron Frickey. “I’m really proud of everyone. The feeling of being European champions is incredible.”
Photo: Riccardo Foglio
