The American Football Association of Germany (AFVD) has completely completed the licensing process for the 2026 season in the ERIMA German Football League (GFL) and GFL 2. This means that it is clear: The Krefeld Ravens are licensed and officially eligible to compete in GFL 2 (Group North) for the 2026 season.
With the licensing process completed, the league lineup for 2026 is final. In addition to the Krefeld Ravens, the following teams are licensed for GFL 2 North: Elmshorn Fighting Pirates, Hamburg Pioneers, Langenfeld Longhorns, Leipzig Lions, Minden Wolves and the Rostock Griffins. Licenses were granted across the league, some with conditions. “This 2026 license stands for much more than a formal decision, because with the new, significantly stricter standards for GFL and GFL2, the requirements for organization, infrastructure, economic stability and processes have been noticeably increased. We also had to readjust in individual subject areas, sharpen processes and further develop standards in order to fully meet this requirement. That’s exactly what we have done – and are therefore prepared for the coming season,” says Christoph Wittfeld, Managing Director of the Krefeld Ravens.
The GFL league association is continuing to implement the league reform decided on in the summer. For GFL 2 this means: In 2026 there will be no additional relay divisions within the two regional groups. In addition, it was decided not to allow any further replacements in the current GFL 2 licensing process – apart from the Montabaur Fighting Farmers. Based on the league line-up that has now been determined, the next steps will be to develop and coordinate the game plans and define the promotion and relegation regulations for 2026. The Krefeld Ravens will provide further season details as soon as the final game dates are available.
