EFA ADDS LONDON, MILAN AHEAD OF 2026 DEBUT

The nascent European Football Alliance has strengthened its position in the battle to be the continent’s premier professional league with the immediate addition of franchises in both London and Milan.

While the EFA says it will announce the revised competitive lineup, schedule and branding of its two new teams in due course, the additions take the number of competing clubs to a round dozen, and pins two new markets to the already cosmopolitan league. Perhaps even more significant, however, is the involvement of David Gandler in the London expansion, given that he was one of three investors who bought into the European League of Football during the 2025 campaign.

“London is a cornerstone market for the EFA, and David Gandler brings the media, venue and operating pedigree to match,” Mason Parker, CEO and general manager of the Prague Lions, commented. “With Gandler Sports Group, this franchise will raise our production standards and accelerate the league’s growth

across Europe.”

Gandler is a major figure at the intersection of sports, media and technology. As co-founder and CEO of Fubo and founder of Gandler Sports Group (GSG), he is also a serial entrepreneur who has built and scaled direct-to-consumer platforms that redefine how fans experience live sports by combining advanced technology, premium content and global distribution.

Beyond streaming, however, he is now the majority owner of East London’s Leyton Orient FC and previously held a financial stake in Paris FC. His acquisition of Orient came complete with rumours that he wanted to move the club to a brand new multisports venue with an eye on adding an ELF franchise to his portfolio, but underscored his commitment to developing a world-class enterprise in the capital. The new London franchise will, for the time being at least, be based at Orient’s BetWright Stadium, formerly known as Brisbane Road.

“This is more than expansion; it’s the next chapter,” Gandler claimed. “London and Milan reflect the best of sport: bold, inclusive, forward-looking. With the EFA’s foundation in place, American football can thrive across Europe. Together, we’re creating opportunity, community and lasting impact.”

London has shown that there is an appetite for American football, albeit of the NFL kind, as International Series games at Wembley and Tottenham regularly sell out. Obviously smaller, BetWright Stadium provides a more viable and authentic home base than the Premier League venues, and has excellent transport links. London’s time zone supports cross-border scheduling and US primetime windows.

The team, however, is unlikely to be able to call itself the Monarchs, as had been mooted amid ELF franchise rumours, due to NFL Europe monikers being licensed to the existing competition. Two-time ELF champions Rhein Fire have already announced that they will be changing their name ahead of the 2026 season.

Milan, meanwhile, is an intriguing addition to the EFA ranks, with the city’s Seamen

operation having played a single season in the ELF before taking a hiatus in 2025. The post-split rumour mill suggested that ELF co-founder Zeljko Karajica was ready to welcome the team back into the fold for next year, but the Seamen moved quickly to quash speculation.

The Italian club, which is likely to be a fresh project, has begun integrating into league operations and is advancing venue planning and commercial partnerships to establish a modern competitive organization under a new identity.

The city is famous for its two Serie A soccer clubs, AC and Inter, and boasts deep regional fan bases across Lombardy. It is also ideally placed to offer fast air and rail links to other EFA cities. Italy’s long American football tradition and national team pedigree should support credible player pathways and a ready fan base.

Further details regarding the Milan ownership group and brand will be announced by the league as milestones are reached.

The EFA is now composed of 12 financially-stable and professionally-operated clubs, which should position the league to deliver on its goals of sustainable growth and long-term value. Adding a presence in two flagship markets should expand the sport’s audience, media distribution and sponsor access not only across Europe but also into US primetime windows. With clubs now spanning the continent — adding the United Kingdom and Italy to France, Spain, Germany, Czechia Denmark and Sweden, the EFA can claim to represent a truly pan-European alliance.