2023 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP OF AMERICAN FOOTBALL

2023 European Championship of American football
Tournament details
Host nation	Europe
Dates	8 October 2022 – October 2023
No. of nations	11
Final positions
Champions	Austria
Runner-up	Finland
Third-place	Italy
	← 2021 2025 →

The 2023 European Championship was the 16th European Championship in American football. The preliminary round was played around Europe from 8 October to 5 November 2022. The final round was played in August and October 2023.^[1]

Austria won the European Championship title after defeating Finland, 28–0, in the final.^[2] Austria wide receiver Philipp Haun was named the MVP of the game after catching three touchdowns.^[2]

Group A, first round

The first round was played around Europe from 8 October to 5 November 2022. It saw 11 teams divided to four groups. Russia was due to be the 12th nation participating as the 3rd team in group 1 but the nation was removed from the tournament due to ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. Russia's games were removed from the schedule.^[3]

A	B	C	D
Italy (1)	Sweden (2)	Finland (3)	France (4)
Great Britain (8)	Serbia (7)	Denmark (6)	Austria (5)
~~Russia (9)~~	Switzerland (10)	Czech Republic (11)	Hungary (12)

Division A

Team	W	L	Pct	PF	PA	PD
Italy	1	0	1.000	28	23	+5
Great Britain	0	1	0.000	23	28	-5

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Italy	7	14	0	7	28
Great Britain	7	9	0	7	23

at Velodromo Vigorelli, Milan, Italy

Date: 30 October 2022
Game time: 3:00 PM
Game weather: Sunny 22 °C (72 °F)
Game attendance: 1050
Referee: Marco Sala
Recap Boxscore

Division B

Team	W	L	Pct	PF	PA	PD
Sweden	2	0	1.000	52	20	+32
Serbia	1	1	0.500	38	34	+4
Switzerland	0	2	0.000	19	55	-36

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Serbia	0	0	7	7	14
Sweden	7	0	7	7	21

at Behrn Arena, Örebro, Sweden

Date: 8 October 2022
Game time: 6:00 PM
Game weather: Crisp 6 °C (43 °F)
Game attendance: 942
Referee: J Kaya
Recap Statistics

Game information

First quarter

01:33 SWE - E Almeida 7 yd pass from P Juhlin (R G Miranda kick), 4-59 2:07, SER 0 - SWE 7

Third quarter

05:52 SWE - S Diakiti 0 yd blocked punt return (R G Miranda kick), , SER 0 - SWE 14
05:35 SER - P Bajalica 68 yd pass from D Obradinovic (Z Stegnjaja kick), 1-68 0:11, SER 7 - SWE 14

Fourth quarter

09:26 SWE - S Diakiti 0 yd interception return (R G Miranda kick), , SER 7 - SWE 21
01:26 SER - J Ikic 14 yd pass from D Obradinovic (Z Stegnjaja kick), 8-40 3:30, SER 14 - SWE 21

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Sweden	6	13	0	12	31
Switzerland	6	0	0	0	6

at Stadion Rankhof, Basel, Switzerland

Date: 16 October 2022
Game time: 2:00 PM
Game weather: Sunny 6 °C (43 °F)
Game attendance: 200
Recap Statistics

Game information

First quarter

11:39 SUI - J Falk 33 yd interception return (C Cordey pass failed), , SWE 0 - SUI 6
08:27 SWE - A Jallai 57 yd pass from P Juhlin (R G Miranda kick failed), 5-70 3:12, SWE 6 - SUI 6

Second quarter

07:26 SWE - O Lundberg 5 yd run (R G Miranda kick), 13-73 6:49, SWE 13 - SUI 6
00:11 SWE - K Borzsei 12 yd pass from T Nilsson (R G Miranda kick failed), 2-70 0:17, SWE 19 - SUI 6

Fourth quarter

07:23 SWE - A Jallai 17 yd pass from T Nilsson (P Juhlin pass failed), 11-67 4:52, SWE 25 - SUI 6
06:50 SWE - B Prasopsin 29 yd interception return (T Nilsson rush failed), , SWE 31 - SUI 6

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Switzerland	0	7	6	0	13
Serbia	0	10	7	7	24

at Sports Center Pampas, Kragujevac, Serbia

Date: 23 October 2022
Game time: 2:00 PM

Division C

Team	W	L	Pct	PF	PA	PD
Finland	2	0	1.000	102	23	+79
Denmark	1	1	0.500	58	100	–42
Czech Republic	0	2	0.000	50	87	–37

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Denmark	0	0	13	0	13
Finland	6	21	13	20	60

at Myyrmäen jalkapallostadion, Vantaa, Finland

Date: 8 October 2022
Game time: 2:00 PM
Game weather: Cloudy with rain 13 °C (55 °F)
Game attendance: 365
Referee: Veikko Lamminsalo
Recap

Game information

First quarter

FIN – Mikko Seppänen 8 yd pass from Ambro Urjansson (Markus Ojainväli pass failed), 06:35 Finland 6–0. Drive: 8 plays, 79 yards, 3:11

Second quarter

FIN – Johannes Jauhiainen 28 yd pass from Ambro Urjansson (Santtu Vehkomäki pass from Ambro Urjansson), 09:33 Finland 14–0. Drive: 6 plays, 65 yards, 2:10.
FIN – Tuukka Lehtonen 11 yd run (Markus Ojainväli kick), 04:03. Finland 21–0. Drive: 7 plays, 76 yards, 2:32
FIN – Iiro-Pekka Paakki 8 yd pass from Ambro Urjansson (Santtu Vehkomäki pass intercepted), 00:47 Finland 27–0. Drive: 3 plays, 45 yards, 0:29.

Third quarter

DEN – Simon Fons 31 yd pass from Alexander Bjerre (Kasper Sørensen kick), 11:45. Finland 27–7. Drive: 1 play, 31 yards, 0:07.
FIN – Lassi Pajarinen 6 yd run (Aleksi Pulkkinen kick), 10:37. Finland 34–7. Drive: 5 plays, 76 yards, 1:08.
DEN – Jens Jensen 42 yd pass from Alexander Bjerre (Kasper Sørensen kick failed), 08:47. Finland 34–13. Drive: 5 plays, 49 yards, 1:43.
FIN – Kimi Linnainmaa 32 yd pass from Ambro Urjansson (Aleksi Pulkkinen kick blocked), 05:09. Finland 40–13. Drive: 8 plays, 79 yards, 3:31.

Fourth quarter

FIN – Micky Kyei 38 yd pass from Ambro Urjansson (Aleksi Pulkkinen kick failed), 11:50. Finland 46–13. Drive: 5 plays, 71 yards, 1:50.
FIN – Johannes Jauhiainen 23 yd pass from Ambro Urjansson (Aleksi Pulkkinen kick), 06:50. Finland 53–13. Drive: 8 plays, 69 yards, 2:59.
FIN – Lassi Pajarinen 38 yd run (Aleksi Pulkkinen kick), 04:09. Finland 60–13. Drive: 4 plays, 56 yards, 1:14.

Top passers

DEN – Alexander Bjerre – 16/33, 248 yards, 2 TD, INT
FIN – Ambro Urjansson – 21/32, 404 yards, 6 TD

Top rushers

DEN – Magnus Nørgaard – 10 rushes, 41 yards
FIN – Tuukka Lehtonen – 12 rushes, 82 yards, TD

Top receivers

DEN – Simon Fons – 6 receptions, 133 yards, TD
FIN – Kimi Linnainmaa – 5 receptions, 117 yards, TD

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Finland	0	14	21	7	42
Czech Republic	0	10	0	0	10

at Městský stadion, Usti, Czech Republic

Date: 16 October 2022
Game time: 1:00 PM
Game weather: Cloudy 21 °C (70 °F)
Game attendance: 720
Referee: Michal Rosíval
Recap

Game information

First quarter

Second quarter

FIN – Tuukka Lehtonen 3 yd pass from Ambro Urjansson (Aleksi Pulkkinen kick), 07:14. Finland 7–0. Drive: 7 plays, 89 yards, 2:43.
CZE – Pavel Mráz 7 yd run (Petr Cermák kick), 04:40. Tied 7–7. Drive: 6 plays, 65 yards, 2:41.
FIN – Kimi Linnainmaa 57 yd pass from Ambro Urjansson (Aleksi Pulkkinen kick). 02:40. Finland 14–7. Drive: 4 plays, 73 yards, 1:59.
CZE – Petr Cermák 40 yd field goal, 00:00. Finland 14–10. Drive: 4 plays, 2 yards, 1:12.

Third quarter

FIN – Santtu Vehkomäki 21 yd pass from Ambro Urjansson (Aleksi Pulkkinen kick), 09:46. Finland 21–10. Drive: 6 plays, 71 yards, 2:18.
FIN – Mikko Seppänen 4 yd pass from Ambro Urjansson (Aleksi Pulkkinen kick), 03:39. Finland 28–10. Drive: 9 plays 40 yards, 4:10.
FIN – Johannes Jauhiainen 10 yd pass from Ambro Urjansson (Aleksi Pulkkinen kick), 01:08. Finland 35–10. Drive: 3 plays, 10 yards, 1:19.

Fourth quarter

FIN – Elmeri Laalo 67 yd interception return (Aleksi Pulkkinen kick), 03:34. Finland 42–10.

Top passers

FIN – Ambro Urjansson – 16/27, 260 yards, 5 TD
CZE – Michal Stoklasek – 7/18, 86 yards, 4 INT

Top rushers

FIN – Tom Suoste – 9 rushes, 40 yards
CZE – Jakub Brezina – 14 rushes, 90 yards

Top receivers

FIN – Kimi Linnainmaa – 5 receptions, 117 yards, TD
CZE – Vojtech Masita – 3 receptions, 56 yards

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Czech Republic	7	7	6	20	40
Denmark	14	14	3	14	45

at Gentofte Sportspark, Gentofte, Denmark

Date: 29 October 2022
Game time: 2:00 PM
Recap

Division D

Team	W	L	Pct	PF	PA	PD
Austria	2	0	1.000	76	7	+69
France	1	1	0.500	16	37	-21
Hungary	0	2	0.000	2	50	-48

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Austria	11	17	0	7	35
France	0	0	0	7	7

at Stade Pierre Delort, Marseille, France

Date: 9 October 2022
Game time: 2:00 PM
Game attendance: 2000
Recap AT Recap FR

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Hungary	0	0	0	0	0
Austria	7	3	17	14	41

at Sportplatz Donaufeld, Vienna, Austria

Date: 23 October 2022
Game time: 1:00 PM
Game weather: Cloudy 15 °C (59 °F)
Game attendance: 1432
Recap Statistics

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
France	0	6	0	3	9
Hungary	0	2	0	0	2

at Budapest Rugby Center, Budapest, Hungary

Date: 5 November 2022
Game time: 1:30 PM
Game attendance: 2270
Referee: Endre Breznay
Recap HU Recap FR

Group A, final stage

The final round was played on 5–6 August and 28–29 October 2023. Games involving Russia were not played.

1–4

Semifinals			Finals

1	Italy	14

5	Austria	24
			5	Austria	28

			3	Finland	0
2	Sweden	14

3	Finland	33	Third place


			1	Italy	26

			2	Sweden	7

5–8

Placement 5–8			5th place game

6	Denmark	13

7	Serbia	6
			6	Denmark	22

			8	Great Britain	30
4	France	6

8	Great Britain	7	7th place game


			4	France	47

			7	Serbia	0

9–12

Placement 9–11			9th place game

10	Czech Republic	15

11	Switzerland	0
			10	Czech Republic	0

			12	Hungary	30
9	Russia	NA

12	Hungary	NA

Finals

5th place game

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Great Britain	0	7	10	13	30
Denmark	0	0	7	15	22

at Gentofte Sportspark, Gentofte, Denmark

Date: 28 October 2023

3rd place game

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Italy	7	9	7	3	26
Sweden	0	0	0	7	7

at Valhalla IP, Gothenburg, Sweden

Date: 28 October 2023
Game time: 3:00 PM
Game attendance: 1421
Referee: Wickham
Recap Statistics

Final

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Finland	0	0	0	0	0
Austria	0	7	7	14	28

at NV Arena, Sankt Pölten, Austria

Date: 28 October 2023
Game time: 3:00 PM
Game attendance: 6400
Statistics

Group B


Round 1		Round 2		Final

22. October 2022
				postponed
Spain	26
		6. August 2023		Germany
Ireland	7
		Spain	23	Israel

		Israel	30
Israel	NA

Turkey	NA

16th place game: Ireland – Turkey 14:17

References

^ "Suomen miesten EM-pelit vauhtiin lokakuussa". jenkkifutis.fi (in Finnish). SAJL. 19 September 2022. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
^ ^a ^b Preston, Michael (29 October 2023). "Austria are the champions of Europe". American Football International. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
^ "IFAF Statement - European Championship (M-T)". IFAF. 16 September 2022. Retrieved 21 September 2022.

[1] "Suomen miesten EM-pelit vauhtiin lokakuussa". jenkkifutis.fi (in Finnish). SAJL. 19 September 2022. Retrieved 21 September 2022.

[afi-2] Preston, Michael (29 October 2023). "Austria are the champions of Europe". American Football International. Retrieved 3 March 2024.

[3] "IFAF Statement - European Championship (M-T)". IFAF. 16 September 2022. Retrieved 21 September 2022.

[1]

[2]

[3]

v t e European Championship of American football
Men's	Italy 1983 Italy 1985 Finland 1987 West Germany 1989 Finland 1991 Italy 1993 Austria 1995 Italy 1997 Germany 2000 Germany 2001 Sweden 2005 Germany 2010 Austria 2014 Finland 2018 Europe 2021 Europe 2023 Europe 2025
Junior	France 1992 Germany 1994 Germany 1996 Germany 1998 Germany 2000 Great Britain 2002 Russia 2004 Sweden 2006 Spain 2008 Spain 2011 Germany 2013 Germany 2015 France 2017 Bologna 2019
Women's	Spain 2015

v t e European Championship of American football
Men's	Italy 1983 Italy 1985 Finland 1987 West Germany 1989 Finland 1991 Italy 1993 Austria 1995 Italy 1997 Germany 2000 Germany 2001 Sweden 2005 Germany 2010 Austria 2014 Finland 2018 Europe 2021 Europe 2023 Europe 2025
Junior	France 1992 Germany 1994 Germany 1996 Germany 1998 Germany 2000 Great Britain 2002 Russia 2004 Sweden 2006 Spain 2008 Spain 2011 Germany 2013 Germany 2015 France 2017 Bologna 2019
Women's	Spain 2015