LONDON ADDITION FINALISES AFLE ROSTER FOR 2026
The American Football League of Europe (AFLE) has confirmed that a London-based franchise will definitely be joining the roster for the 2026 season, taking the line-up to eight teams in all.
With the addition of London, the AFLE continues what it calls ‘its measured growth strategy in selected European markets’. The United Kingdom has demonstrated steady development in American football in recent years, supported by established domestic programmes, increasing youth participation and regular international exposure. As such, the AFLE claims, London offers strong infrastructure, access to emerging talent and a relevant position within the European sports landscape, all of which support the league’s objective of building competitive and sustainably operated franchises across key regions.
Leading the London franchise as general manager will be Marvin Allen, one of the most experienced figures in British American football, with a career spanning Europe and North America. As a player, he earned a Super Bowl ring during his time with the Pittsburgh Steelers’ practice squad and competed in NFL Europe with Frankfurt Galaxy, Rhein Fire and Amsterdam Admirals. He later played for the London Warriors before moving into coaching.
In recent years, Allen served as defensive coordinator for the London Warriors and worked within the NFL Academy UK programme. Between 2019 and 2023, he also held a full-time role with NFL UK in coaching and player development.
“It is a great honour to take on the role of president and GM for this franchise,” Allen commented. “London has a strong football community and a growing base of talented athletes. Our goal is to build a professional and competitive organisation that reflects the ambition of the sport in the UK. I am proud to be part of this next step and look forward to contributing to the continued development of American football in Europe.”
Further details regarding the official team name, branding and home stadium will be announced as soon as possible, pending the completion of final legal checks.
“We are proud of the strong and diverse group of franchises that will form our inaugural season,” COO and managing director Moritz Heisler the league’s official website. “Each organisation brings its own identity, ambition and commitment to professional standards. Together, they create the foundation for a sustainable and competitive league across Europe.
“Our objective was never rapid expansion at any cost. We focused on selecting ownership groups and markets that share our vision of transparency, stability, and long-term growth. This line-up represents exactly that.”
London’s involvement, amid the AFLE’s intention to run eight franchises in its debut season, confirms that expansion plans including Monaco are on hold until 2027.
“Monaco is a very exciting and strategically important market for us,” Heisler insisted. “The project is developing in a very structured way, and we are confident it will be a valuable addition to the league in 2027. This step underlines our commitment to controlled and sustainable expansion.”