ELF and EFA Agree to Reunify for 2026 Season Under New Team-Led Governance Model

The European League of Football (ELF) and the European Football Alliance (EFA) have reached a cooperation agreement to reunify professional American football in Europe, commencing with the 2026 season.

The deal brings an end to a period of instability in the European game, establishing a new transparent, team-led governance model designed to secure the sport’s long-term commercial viability.

The reunification follows a turbulent offseason that threatened to fracture the continental ecosystem.

The formation of the EFA saw several top franchises, including the Stuttgart Surge, the 2025 ELF champions, attempting to break away in pursuit of better stability. The urgency for a unified front was underscored earlier this week when the Surge, despite their recent on-field success, filed for insolvency, highlighting the fragile economic reality of a divided market.

Under the new structure, the league will transition to a shared leadership model overseen by a Board of Governors comprising teams and shareholders. This body will assume responsibility for critical commercial pillars, including league-wide planning, media rights, competition licensing, and standardised independent auditing.

The move aims to align incentives across markets and prioritise financial reliability for investors and partners.

As part of the restructuring, Zeljko Karajica will step aside from league governance and operations. The organisations acknowledged his role in building the initial platform but confirmed the transition to a more collaborative structure was necessary for future growth. The reunification process was heavily facilitated by Ingo Schiller, whose mediation on behalf of the ELF was pivotal in resolving structural barriers.

The agreement is backed by a consortium of key investors, including 885 Capital, Oakvale Capital, D2D4, and Gandler Sports Group. Joint working groups are now finalising the league composition, venue standards, and broadcast protocols for 2026, with a final list of participating teams to be announced in the coming weeks.

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