FIDAF youth tackle season opens on October 17
The 2026 autumn program begins with Under-15 games and the Italy Cup, as 29 entries span four competitions.
Italy’s 2026 autumn American football tackle season is scheduled to begin on October 17 and 18, according to the Italian Federation of American Football (FIDAF). The opening weekend includes the first Under-15 and Italy Cup games.
FIDAF reports 29 entries across four competitions. The Under-12 calendar is still being defined, while the Under-18 championship is also part of the youth program.
Eleven teams in the Under-15 competition
The Under-15 championship will use the Seven-Man format, with seven players per team on the field. Its 11 teams are divided into two geographic groups.
Group A comprises Dolphins Ancona, Legionari Roma, Panthers Parma, Titans Romagna and White Tigers Massa. Group B comprises Blitz Ciriè, Duchi Ferrara, Elevate Sports Academy Lombardia, Frogs Legnano, Giaguari Torino and Seamen Milano.
The top two teams in each group are scheduled to advance to crossover semifinals, pairing each group winner with the other group’s runner-up. The semifinal winners will compete for the national title.
A route into tackle football
FIDAF describes the youth competitions as a step in players’ development, including for young people whose first experience of American football may have come through flag football, a non-contact format.
The federation says girls born between 2010 and 2013 can play in Under-15 tackle without a numerical limit on their presence in team rosters. Girls may also participate in Under-12, providing opportunities to play alongside boys in the younger category.
Participation and the wider game
FIDAF notes that the number of teams entered is lower than in 2025, without specifying the size of the change. The federation points to recruitment and continued participation among young athletes as areas requiring attention.
The source also describes flag football’s growth and the prospect of its inclusion at Los Angeles 2028 as an opportunity for the sport. Tackle and flag have different formats, but can offer complementary pathways, according to FIDAF.
Newsroom
The 2026 youth tackle season is set to open on October 17, with the Under-15 field divided into two groups and the Under-12 schedule still under preparation.
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Sources
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FIDAF
Official source · 15/10/2026 12:00
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