FAQ — Development and Growth of American Football in France
When was American football first introduced in France?
American football was first played in France in 1909 but saw little progress until its formal reintroduction by Laurent Plegelatte over 30 years ago.
Who created the first French American football team?
Laurent Plegelatte founded the first team, Spartacus, in 1980, marking the beginning of organized American football in modern France.
How popular is American football in France today?
The sport has grown from 40 teams in 1989 to over 200 clubs and more than 22,000 players in 2018, showing increasing national interest.
What recent achievements highlight France’s progress in American football?
France placed second in the 2010 European Championship and third in the 2014 edition, reflecting the sport’s growing competitiveness.
American football in France
Although in France many kinds of football are played, the best known is soccer.
This, as you already kno, is the name given to it in the United States of America with the likes of Zinedine Zidane and Thierry Henry being household names today in France. However, there is another kind of football that was first played way back in 1909 here
in France. It is American football and, it has seen little or no development until its formal introduction more than 30 years ago by Laurent Plegelatte.
Many kind of football are played in US
It was Laurent Plegelatte who formed the first French team, Spartacus, in 1980 for American football in France. Over time, the number of teams would grow to 40 in the year 1989 and, then to more than 200 American football clubs in 2018 with over 22,000 players of this sport in France.
The future of American football in France looks bright, especially recently, as the FFFA (Fédération Française de Football Américain), the top league in France, seeks more exposure for the game locally. Furthermore, the soon-to-be-held European Championship of American football has seen France taking the second and the third place positions in the last two editions held in 2010 and 2014 respectively.