Does Spain have any American football teams or leagues?

Spain breathes fútbol, eats fútbol, and argues passionately about fútbol over their two-hour lunch, so the idea of another sport called “football”, with pads, helmets, and stoppages every ten seconds, might feel…wrong. Ask a typical Spaniard about the NFL and you may get a polite shrug, a reference to Tom Brady, or a reminder that “real football” involves a ball at your feet, not in your hands.

And yet, Spain does have American football teams, and a surprisingly well-organized league system that’s been around for decades.

Here’s how it all works, from the amateur ranks to Spain’s semi-pro team playing in Europe.

Spain’s American football scene: bigger than you’d think

Spain has two main football ecosystems:

Spain has had organized American football since the 1980s, and today it has two main football ecosystems: Liga Nacional de Fútbol Americano (LNFA) and the European League of Football (ELF)

Liga Nacional de Fútbol Americano (LNFA)

The Liga Nacional de Fútbol Americano (LNFA) was founded in 1990 with multiple divisions, featuring about 10 teams across the top division. The season runs from January to May, and the league has been a steady, if modest, home for Spanish players who love the sport.

It isn’t professional (most players work normal jobs during the week), but it’s real football with real coaching, real schemes, and real fans. It’s part competitive, part developmental, and part passion project, and the people who play it really love it.

European League of Football (ELF)

The European League of Football (ELF), a semi-pro competition that started in 2021 with strong roots in Germany and has since spread across the continent. It’s modeled loosely after the NFL and has 16 teams as of 2024, including one from Spain.

Spain’s representative is the Madrid Bravos, a franchise created in 2023. The now-defunct Barcelona Dragons also played until financial issues shut them down. The season runs from May to September.

Meet the Madrid Bravos: Madrid’s Other Football Team

Founded in 2023, the Bravos are the new kids in Madrid’s sports universe, but they’re determined not to be overshadowed by the city’s slightly more famous clubs (you know, Real Madrid and Atlético).

In just two seasons, the Bravos:

• Made the ELF playoffs twice,
• Grew their average attendance from 1,000 to about 3,000 per game, and
• Created a full American-style game-day experience, complete with tailgates, cheerleaders, mascots, and halftime shows.

The NFL’s arrival in Madrid hasn’t hurt. Commanders coach Dan Quinn even walked into his first Spain press conference this week wearing a Bravos No. 12 jersey, an unexpected bit of free advertising for the local franchise.

“A quick shoutout to the Madrid Bravos,” Quinn said.

That one-liner alone probably put the team in front of more Spaniards than any single moment in its young history.

Spain also sees a steady stream of American and European imports, like quarterback Reid Sinnett, a former NFL practice-squad QB who became the ELF’s 2024 MVP with nearly 4,000 yards, 50 touchdowns, and a 72.9% completion rate.

Spain’s domestic league: Still standing, still growing

While the Bravos are getting the headlines, the LNFA remains the backbone of Spanish American football. Unlike the ELF, which limits foreign players to encourage homegrown development, LNFA rosters are overwhelmingly Spanish. Many of the country’s best players move between LNFA teams and ELF squads as opportunities arise.

The problem is that most Spaniards don’t know these leagues exist. Bravos owner Jaime Martín is hoping that will change with the arrival of the NFL in Spain.

“The NFL helps give more visibility to the sport,” Martín told the AP. “With Spain on the NFL map, more people are going to be talking about American football… and local teams.”

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