European League of Football starts 2025 season with 16 teams from nine nations - Milan paused - Barcelona Dragons drop out

The 2025 field of participants has been finalised! The European League of Football will start the next season with 16 teams from nine nations. Nordic Storm will join, the Milano Seamen will take a one-year break and return in 2026, and the Barcelona Dragons will leave the "Champions League" of European Football.

"The ELF has grown rapidly since it was founded four years ago, but is still a young league. In a franchise system, it is completely normal and unsurprising that locations develop differently. Many different factors play a role here. Our goal of 24 teams in the final expansion stage remains  unchanged", says ELF Managing Director Zeljko Karajica, adding: "Our primary goal is to provide fans with a product that is attractive in every respect and to offer a competitive league. That's why, in addition to expansion, we are increasingly focussing on the quality of the teams. We have learnt that from the past season."

"Achieving stability in the field of participants is an unavoidable process"

"Of course, it's a shame that things are not continuing in Barcelona. But a certain amount of fluctuation is part of it. Only two founding members are still playing in the NFL, both under different names. Countless teams have disappeared from the scene over the years, while others have joined. Achieving stability in the field of participants is an unavoidable process that we have factored in from the outset", emphasises ELF commissioner Patrick Esume.

While there are currently no future prospects for the Dragons in the European League of Football, Milan is already working on their return. "We believe in the success of the ELF and will return in 2026 with a changed ownership group that will create both the economic and infrastructural conditions to form a stronger and more competitive team from Italy", says Paolo Mutti, president and co-owner of Milano Seamen.

In May, defending Champion Rhein Fire, Berlin Thunder, Hamburg Sea Devils, Munich Ravens, Frankfurt Galaxy, Cologne Centurions and Stuttgart Surge from Germany, Vienna Vikings and Raiders Tirol from Austria, Madrid Bravos from Spain, Panthers Wroclaw from Poland, Prague Lions from the Czech Republic, Fehérvár Enthroners from Hungary, Helvetic Mercenaries from Switzerland, Paris Musketeers from France and Nordic Storm from Denmark, a debutant, will start the 2025 season.