The Belgian American Football League (BAFL) is a sports league for American football in Belgium founded in 1987. The league currently consists of 11 teams from Belgian cities and regions. The league used to be divided into two conferences—the Flemish American Football League (FAFL) and Ligue Francophone de Football Americain de Belgique (LFFAB). The current season is the first without conferences. At the end of the regular season, four teams play in the BFL playoffs, a four-team single-elimination tournament that culminates with the championship game, known as the Belgian Bowl.
Seasons
Football rules
The BFL uses the American college football rules: (2013/2014 NCAA Rulebook). These differ from the popular professional league of the United States, the NFL. The officials are organised in the Belgian American Football Officials Committee (BAFOC).
The conferences The BFL is divided into a Dutch-speaking conference and a French-speaking conference, based on the northern Flemish Community and the southern French Community of Belgium. These two communities intermingle in the territory of Brussels, two teams based in Brussels play in the Dutch (FAFL) and one team plays in the French (LFFAB). The LFFAB has one team from Luxembourg, the Steelers, but they left the league in 2026 for Germany Oberliga. The conferences are important for the championship game as they determine who will participate in the play-offs. Teams only play interconference games in the play-offs.
Teams There are 18 BFL teams. The La Louvière Wolves are on hold. New teams must be located 20 km from an existing team. This rule does not apply for Brussels. Luxembourg Steelers left in 2026 for Germany Oberliga. Team City or area Founded Website Flemish American Football League, FAFL, Antwerp Spartans Antwerp, BE 2019Antwerp Spartans Bruges Broncos Brugge, BE 2025Broncos Brussels Black Angels Brussels, BE 1989Black Angels Ghent Gators Ghent, BE 1999Gators Izegem Tribes Izegem, BE 1989Tribes Leuven Lions Leuven, BE 1986Lions Limburg Shotguns Leopoldsburg, BE 2008Shotguns Ostend Pirates Ostend, BE 2013Pirates Ligue Francophone de Football Americain de Belgique, LFFAB, Amay Atomics Amay, BE 2014 Andenne Bears Andenne, BE 2002Bears Brussels Tigers Brussels, BE 1998Tigers Charleroi Coal Miners Charleroi, BE 1993CoalMiners Liège Monarchs Liège, BE 1986Monarchs Mons KnightsMons, BE 2012Knights Mont-Saint-Guibert Turtles Mont-Saint-Guibert, BE 2009 Verviers Mustangs Verviers, BE 2016 Waterloo Warriors Waterloo, BE 2011Warriors
Team locations
BFL records Most national championships: 8 West Flanders Tribes (2000, 2001, 2006–2011) Most appearances in a national championship: 16 Brussels Black Angels (1996–1998, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2015–2019, 2021, 2025, 2026) Most consecutive national championships: 6 West Flanders Tribes (2006–2011) Most consecutive appearances in a national championship: 6 West Flanders Tribes (2006–2011) Most consecutive appearances in the playoffs: 10 Brussels Black Angels (2001–2011) Most consecutive wins: 50 West Flanders Tribes (27 February 2007 – 4 June 2011) Longest streak no losses: 53 West Flanders Tribes (21 May 2006 – 4 June 2011) Most consecutive perfect seasons: 4 West Flanders Tribes (2008–2011) Most consecutive unbeaten seasons: 5 West Flanders Tribes (2007–2011)
See also American Football Bond Nederland
References
External links Official FAFL website Official LFFAB website Official BAFOC website Dale's FAFL thoughts - FAFL Blog