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What other countries call American football?

American football, known simply as football in the United States, is a popular sport that originated in the U.S. in the late 19th century. The sport has grown into a massive industry and cultural phenomenon in the U.S., with millions of fans and the NFL as the most lucrative sports league in the world. However, outside of the U.S., “football” typically refers to what Americans call soccer. So how do other countries refer to American football? Let’s explore the different terms and names used for the sport around the world.

Canada

Just north of the border in Canada, American football is generally referred to by the same name as in the U.S. Canadians simply call it “football.” The Canadian Football League (CFL) was established in 1958 and has operated continuously ever since as the country’s premier professional league. Football has long been one of the most popular sports in Canada.

That being said, the term “American football” is sometimes used in Canada to distinguish it from Canadian football. While very similar, there are some minor rule differences between American and Canadian football. So “American football” is used at times to differentiate it from the Canadian version.

Mexico

In Mexico, American football is referred to as “fútbol americano.” Fútbol (football) is used in most Latin American countries to refer to soccer, so fútbol americano literally translates to “American football.” The game has grown steadily in popularity in Mexico ever since the 1920s.

There is a 24 team Mexican professional league called the Liga de Fútbol Americano Profesional (LFA). Outside of the U.S., Mexico has one of the oldest and well-established professional American football leagues.

United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, it is commonly referred to as “American football.” Given that football/soccer is the predominant sport in the UK, using “American football” avoids confusion between the two football codes. The British Elite League is the top level of professional American football in the UK.

Some media outlets and fans simply refer to the sport as “football,” just as in the U.S. But adding the “American” qualifier is more widely used. Other less common names in UK include “gridiron” and “NFL football” (referring to the popularity of the NFL).

Germany

Germany has a long history with American football, with the sport first originating there in the 1970s. In German, the sport is most often called “Amerikanischer Football.” The German Football League (GFL) was formed in 1979 and is the country’s top American football league.

Some other German names for the sport include “Football,” “American Football,” and “American Football-Spiel” (American football game). While less common, “Gridiron Football” is sometimes used as well.

Australia

In Australia, the sport is referred to as “gridiron.” This originated from the word “gridiron” that was used in early American football to describe the field markings that resembled a cooking gridiron.

The “gridiron football” term never caught on in modern American usage, but Australians adopted it as their name for the sport. The Australian Football League (AFL) is the country’s top professional league. Gridiron enjoys modest popularity in Australia, overshadowed by Aussie rules football, rugby league, rugby union, and cricket.

Japan

American football was first introduced to Japan in the 1930s. It rose to further prominence after World War II when games were played between American military teams and Japanese college teams. Today, the sport is known as “Amerika-gakkō fūtbōru” meaning “American football.”

The X-League is the top tier professional league in Japan. University and high school football are also hugely popular. While not as widely followed as baseball, soccer, or sumo wrestling, American football has a devoted fan and player base in Japan.

China

China has a small but growing number of American football players and enthusiasts. The Chinese name for American football is 美式橄榄球 (Měishì gǎnlǎnqiú) which translates literally to “American olive ball.” This refers to the oval shape of the ball.

The China Arena Football League (CAFL) was established in 2016 as China’s first professional American football league. Participation numbers at the youth and high school level have rapidly increased over the last decade. But the sport still remains well behind basketball, table tennis, and soccer in terms of popularity in China.

India

Like China, India has seen a recent uptick of interest in American football. It is referred to as either “American football” or “NFL football” in India. The Elite Football League of India (EFLI) was founded in 2011 as the country’s first professional American football organization, though operations were halted after two seasons.

Grassroots participation has grown in India, especially among high school and college students. But overall, football has very little visibility in India compared to its other favourite sports like cricket and field hockey.

Brazil

In Brazil, American football is called “Futebol americano” in Portuguese. Beginning in the 1990s, Brazil’s Confederação Brasileira de Futebol Americano (CBFA) worked extensively to increase the visibility and development of the sport in the country.

Today, all 26 Brazilian states have an American football team. Brazil’s domestic amateur club league continues to grow. American football will likely never overtake soccer in Brazilian sports culture, but it has carved out a niche and seen impressive growth.

France

American football first arrived in France during World War I when American troops stationed there introduced the game to the locals. The sport gradually grew in popularty and France now has over 25,000 registered members playing for over 150 different teams.

In French, American football is referred to as “football américain.” This distinguishes it from soccer which is called “football” in France. The French Federation of American Football oversees the sport’s amateur club and youth development.

Other European Countries

Some examples of American football translations in other European languages:

  • Spain – “Fútbol americano”
  • Italy – “Football americano”
  • Norway – “Amerikansk fotball”
  • Netherlands – “American football”
  • Sweden – “Amerikansk fotboll”
  • Denmark – “Amerikansk fodbold”
  • Finland – “Amerikkalainen jalkapallo”

The common thread is the use of “American” or “Amerika” to differentiate it from the different football codes popular in Europe.

Africa

American football has a small but growing presence in parts of Africa. The game first arrived in Africa through American missionaries and Peace Corps volunteers teaching Africans how to play in the 1960s and 70s.

Some African countries with American football programs and teams include Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Senegal, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Ethiopia. The game is referred to as “American football” in these countries. Participation numbers currently remain low compared to soccer and rugby, but growth has accelerated over the last decade.

Conclusion

American football is known by many different names around the world. But the common thread is that most non-English speaking countries refer to it as “American football” translated into their local language. This avoids confusion with soccer or other codes of football popular in those countries.

Beyond North America, American football enjoys its greatest popularity in Japan, Mexico, Germany, and Brazil. The game continues to grow globally and gain foreign fans particularly through the NFL’s annual international games. But it still remains far behind soccer and other local sports in much of the world.

Here is a summary table of different country names for American football:

Country Name
Canada Football, American football
Mexico Fútbol americano
UK American football, gridiron
Germany Amerikanischer Football
Australia Gridiron
Japan Amerika-gakkō fūtbōru
China Měishì gǎnlǎnqiú
India American football, NFL football
Brazil Futebol americano
France Football américain

American football has expanded beyond the U.S. and taken root in different forms around the globe. The future looks bright for continued international growth as more countries develop leagues, youth programs, and fan interest.