American Football Verband Deutschland | AFVD

What American Football Verband Deutschland | AFVD does

The American Football Verband Deutschland e.V. (AFVD) is the national governing body for American Football, Flag Football, and Cheerleading in Germany, founded in 1982 and registered as an eingetragener Verein (e.V.) at Amtsgericht Frankfurt am Main. Headquartered in Frankfurt am Main with approximately 15 staff, the federation operates through a federated structure of state associations (Landesverbände) and roughly 100+ member clubs, administering the entire competitive stack from school programs to professional-level leagues: the effect® ENERGY GFL and GFL 2 (30 men's tackle teams), GFL Women, GFL Juniors (U20), the DKB Deutsche Flag Football Liga (16 teams), the DKB DFFLF (women's flag football), the CVD Cheerleading division, and the AFSVD referee organization.

The organization's revenue mechanics combine sponsorship and naming rights (DKB, ERIMA, NFL), membership and licensing fees from clubs and state associations, ticket and broadcast income from flagship events (GFL Bowl, Ladies Bowl, Die Finals), and donations/fundraising (e.g., the 750km walk for national teams). It is tax-exempt under §52 AO and affiliated with the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) since 1992 and the International Federation of American Football (IFAF). The portfolio is operationally technology-light: no proprietary platform, app, or AI system — core technology is competition administration, licensing systems, and digital content via afvd.de and league portals, supported by broadcast partnerships with ARD/ZDF, SPORT1, and Twitch/Spontent.

AFVD's primary constituencies are football clubs and athletes across all levels (recreational to professional), German schools participating in the NFL Flag program (350+ schools, 40,000+ students), elite national team athletes (Tackle and Flag across multiple age categories), and cheerleading clubs. The federation is positioned to capitalize on Flag Football's inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games and Germany's status as a core market in the NFL International Series (4 regular-season games hosted since 2022).

Name

American Football Verband Deutschland | AFVD

Legal name

American Football Verband Deutschland e.V.

Website

https://afvd.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

AFVD is Germany's national governing body for American Football, Flag Football, and Cheerleading, federating 100+ clubs and 350+ schools through state associations and licensing leagues from school level to the top-tier GFL. It is DOSB- and IFAF-affiliated and will host the 2026 IFAF Flag Football World Championship in Düsseldorf.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sports Federation Governance

NAICS

Spectator Sports (71121), Other Spectator Sports (711219), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131)

akta.pro primary industry

National Governing Bodies (NGBs) (MPAKAFAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

American Football Leagues (MPAKAAAB), Professional Sport Governing Bodies & League Sanctioning Authorities (MPAKAFAE)

Keywords

• American football federation
• Flag football league
• National sports governing body
• Cheerleading association
• Competitive league organization

Headquarters

HQ city

Frankfurt am Main

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Sponsorship and partnership revenue: AFVD generates revenue through commercial partnerships with organizations such as DKB (Deutsche Kreditbank AG) as naming sponsor of the DFFL and DFFLF leagues, ERIMA as sponsor of the GFL, and through its collaboration with the NFL on events and school programs. These partnerships fund league operations, national team activities, and youth development.
2. Membership fees: AFVD operates through a federated membership structure where state associations and clubs pay membership fees. The organization also collects registration and licensing fees for leagues and teams (e.g., DFFL 5er Lizenzierungsordnung, GFL/GFL2 Lizenzstatut).
3. Event and ticket revenue: Revenue is generated through ticket sales for major championship events including GFL Bowl, Ladies Bowl, DFFL Finals, and national cheerleading championships. Additional revenue comes from streaming and broadcast rights (e.g., ARD/ZDF coverage of Finals, SPORT1 GFL broadcasts).
4. Donations and fundraising: AFVD runs fundraising campaigns for national team support, such as the 750km walk for Team Germany raising funds for women's and U19 Tackle national teams. The organization is a registered non-profit (e.V.) and tax-exempt under German law (§52 AO).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

AFVD is the official national governing body for American Football, Flag Football, and Cheerleading in Germany, recognized by IFAF and affiliated with DOSB. It organizes competitive leagues (effect® ENERGY GFL, GFL 2, GFL Juniors, GFL Women, DKB DFFL, DKB DFFLF), national championships, national team programs (Team Germany), referee development (AFSVD), youth development (Jugendländerturnier), and Cheerleading organization (CVD). It also sanctions and hosts major events including Die Finals, the GFL Bowl, the AFVD Schul-Flag Bowl, and the IFAF Flag Football World Championship 2026 in Düsseldorf.

Product overview

The American Football Verband Deutschland (AFVD) is the national governing body for American Football, Flag Football, and Cheerleading in Germany. The organization operates a portfolio of sports programs, leagues, and events rather than a technology product. Key offerings include: the effect® ENERGY GFL (top-tier men's tackle football league with 30 teams), GFL Women (women's tackle football), GFL Juniors (U20 youth league), DKB DFFL and DKB DFFLF (men's and women's 5-on-5 Flag Football leagues), national team programs across all disciplines, the Jugendländerturnier (youth state tournament), and Cheerleading via the CVD division. Major events include Die Finals (national Flag Football championships), the AFVD Schul-Flag Bowl (school tournament), and hosting the IFAF Flag Football World Championship 2026 in Düsseldorf. The organization also manages referee development through AFSVD with a tiered licensing system.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• effect® ENERGY GFL (German Football League) Highest playing class of American Football in Germany for men's tackle football; operated by AFVD and culminating in the GFL Bowl.
• GFL Women Women's American Football league with Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga divisions, culminating in the Ladies Bowl championship.
• GFL Juniors (GFLJ) Highest youth (U20) American Football performance league in Germany, with playoffs culminating in the Junior Bowl.
• DKB Deutsche Flag Football Liga (DFFL) 5-on-5 men's Flag Football league organized by AFVD since 2016 with 16 teams competing for the German championship.
• DKB Deutsche Flag Football Liga Frauen (DFFLF) Women's 5-on-5 Flag Football Bundesliga with the top 4 teams qualifying for the Final 4 championship at Die Finals.
• Team Germany National Team Programs National team programs across Tackle (Men/Women/U19) and Flag Football (Men/Women/U17 Boys/U17 Girls/U15 Mixed) for European and World Championship competition.
• CVD Cheerleader Vereinigung Deutschland Umbrella organization for Cheerleading under AFVD, organizing German and state championships, DOSB-recognized coach licensing (C and B), and international competition participation.
• AFSVD Schiedsrichterwesen (Referee Organization) American Football Schiedsrichter Vereinigung Deutschland - coordinates refereeing organization, national assignments, GFL referee pool, and tiered licensing (E to A).
• Jugendländerturnier (JLT) Central annual U18 youth state tournament with state selection teams competing in Tackle Football (U18) and Flag Football (U14-U17 categories).
• AFVD Schul-Flag Bowl 2026 National school Flag Football tournament for U14 Mixed teams, held annually at Ostra Park in Dresden, supported by DKB.
• IFAF Flag Football World Championship 2026 Düsseldorf

Quantifiable outcome

• 72,203 spectators at the NFL Berlin Game 2025, with €74 million in estimated economic impact
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• NFL (National Football League)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFVD collaborates with the NFL on Flag Football development, school programs, and major events. This includes the NFL Flag school program reaching 40,000+ students, halftime shows at NFL Germany Games (Munich 2022, Frankfurt 2023, Berlin 2025), and joint promotion of Flag Football ahead of its Olympic debut in 2028. NFL Germany Headquarter is based in Düsseldorf.
• DKB (Deutsche Kreditbank AG)flagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerDKB serves as naming sponsor of the DKB Deutsche Flag Football Liga (DFFL), DKB Deutsche Flag Football Liga Frauen (DFFLF), and supports the NFL Flag school program. The partnership funds league operations, school programs, and event coverage including ARD/ZDF broadcasting at Die Finals 2026.
• IFAF (International Federation of American Football)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFVD is the official German member of IFAF, the world governing body for American Football. AFVD organizes and hosts the IFAF Flag Football World Championship 2026 in Düsseldorf and represents Germany at all IFAF European and World competitions in Tackle and Flag Football.
• SPORTFIVEcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSPORTFIVE supports the NFL Flag school program in Germany, facilitating partnerships between the NFL, schools, and AFVD. They coordinate teacher training, equipment distribution, and regional tournament organization.
• Deutscher Tanzsportverband (DTV)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince 2016, AFVD/CVD is a member of the Deutscher Tanzsportverband (German Dance Sports Federation) under DTV Article 6(8). This membership enables cross-sport collaboration, joint events, and integration of Cheer Dance into the dance sports ecosystem.
• D.SPORTScoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerD.SPORTS, a Düsseldorf-based event agency, serves as the local organizing committee project lead for the IFAF Flag Football World Championship 2026 in Düsseldorf.
• FUTURE LEAGUE x American and Flag FootballcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFVD collaborates with NFL on the FUTURE LEAGUE x American and Flag Football program, designed to expand school and youth Flag Football activities in Germany following the NFL Berlin Game 2025.
• NFL Flag Ambassador ProgramcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAFVD has appointed official NFL Flag Ambassadors including Mona Stevens (women's national team quarterback) and Benjamin Klever, who promote Flag Football at NFL events, in media (RTL), and through grassroots engagement.
• NADA (Nationale Anti Doping Agentur)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFVD cooperates with the National Anti-Doping Agency of Germany (NADA) to implement anti-doping regulations, athlete education, and testing programs in line with German and international standards.
• DOSB (Deutscher Olympischer Sportbund)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFVD is a member of the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB), which provides institutional recognition, framework guidelines for trainer education, and supports the integration of American Football and Cheerleading into the organized German sports structure.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@americanfootballverband/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/AFVD
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/american-football-verband-deutschland
• Instagraminstagram.com/afvd_football

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about American Football Verband Deutschland | AFVD