Even 8,000 km from Santa Clara, venue of the Super Bowl next week, American football is getting people talking. For good reason, on February 7, the Marseille Blue Stars begin their 2026 season. Before launching their year with this match against the Argonautes of Aix-en-Provence, the club brought together the press to discuss the coming months, which will be decisive for the continuation of its project. The Marseille Swimmers’ Circle hosted this meeting, with a sea view speech.
The president of the Blue Stars, Didier Della Guardia, and the sporting director, Bavouang Souphanthavong, spoke about the short and long term objectives of their team. « The past year has shown that we are a close-knit, family club. The one to come is also full of challenges and ambition », explains the first quoted. He does not forget to highlight the success of youth teams in the three disciplines of American football, flag football and cheerleading. The “cheer” even managed to place its women’s team at the European summit which will take place on June 21, in Lisbon.
Bavouang Souphanthavong set out the objectives for the coming year, including participation in the play-offs, going as far as possible in this final phase and developing the club’s young players. For this, the offensive line was strengthened and two foreign players settled in Bouches-du-Rhône. The Americans Sterling Sheffield and Jemal Williams are the players recruited to see higher. Both are professionals and have played in different North American leagues. Sheffield even briefly played in the NFL.
« I wanted to come and especially to Marseille. I had this opportunity and I accepted it. What I liked was the culture of winning, the desire to win of this association “, says Sterling Sheffield. Jemal Williams spoke at length with his family before making the decision to settle in Marseille, especially since he is a young father. The two men will be important links in an ambitious Marseille team.
An Elite league for 2027
Especially since the French championship will be shaken up next season. The French American Football Federation has approved the creation of the Elite League. Eight clubs, divided into two groups, north and south, will compete in this closed league of ten matches. “ The championship will be televised. This is an additional challenge for us, with necessary investments », Launches the Marseille president. Didier Della Guardia also emphasizes that the Blue Stars have a budget “ two to three times lower » compared to Thonon and La Courneuve, the two French giants with track records as long as a US football field. A step forward, a challenge for the men of Bavouang Souphanthavong, who will use this 2026 season as a springboard towards this new era for the discipline, on French soil.
