American Football was first introduced to Japan in the 1930s, although it was not until 1947 that it was played regularly, with the Rice Bowl, Japan’s Super Bowl played since 1947. Japan is so big on American Football it has its own page on Eirball at: Japan American Football. Korea, likewise has been playing American Football since the National University Championship was started in 1958. West Asia started playing American Football in the 2000s and China, India, Central Asia and South East Asia in the 2010s.
Picture Credit: [1] Korea American Football Association (2019) logo [Internet] Available from: http://www.kafa.org/kafa_new/images/logo.gif [Accessed 5 July 2020]
American Football has been played in Korea since the 1950s. The Kimchi Bowl is their version of the Super Bowl and has been played since 1995 between the winners of the University Championship (Tiger Bowl) and Social Championship (Corporations) (Gwanggaeto Bowl).
The National University Championship has been played since 1958 and since 1995 is known as the Tiger Bowl.
The Gwanggaeto Bowl is the Championship Game of the Social Championship (Corporations).
Korea (KAFA)
KAFA
Kimchi Bowl (Social Champions v University Champions):
Korea American Football Association | Kimchi Bowl 1995-2017
Tiger Bowl (National University Championship):
Korea American Football Association Tiger Bowl (University Championship) 2007-Present
Korea American Football Club Association (Arena Football)
A-League (Seasons): 2019
B-League (seasons): 2019
Picture Credit: [9] Emirates American Football League (2019) logo [Internet] Available from: https://eafl.ae/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/logo.png [Accessed 5 July 2020]
American Football started in countries like Israel, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and Kazakhstan in the early 2000s.
West Asia American Football
Israel (AFI), UAE (EAFL)
International Games
United Arab Emirates | International American Football Matches 2012-2018
Israel (AFI):
American Football in Israel | Israeli Football League 2012-2018
United Arab Emirates (EAFL):
Tom Kelly, the intrepid American with the Irish name started the first Central Asian American Football Association in April 2002. From then until 2008 Kazakhstan team KIMEP Titans from Almaty played a series of friendlies versus Kyrgyzstan’s AUK American University of Kyrgyzstan and Bishkek BARS Leopards.
In 2004 the first Bishkek Challenge Games were played between two Leopards teams, and then in 2007 a second team was created in Bishkek: Golden Eagles and in 2008 a third: KNU (Kyrgyzstan National University). A three team tournament was then arranged between the three Bishkek teams in 2008.
Central Asia & TransCaucasia American Football
Turkey (TAFK), Central Asia (CAAFA)
Turkey (TAFK):
Turkiye Amerikan Futbolu Kurlu Turkey Tournament (Seasons): 2001
Central Asia (CAAFA)
CAAFA Central Asian Challenge Games
CAAFA Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan)
Picture Credit: [1] Wikipedia (2018) Elite Football League of India Logo [Internet] Available from: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f0/Elite_Football_League_of_India_Logo.png [Accessed 2 August 2018]
South Asia American Football
EFLI; EFLI SL;
Indian Sub-Continent Pro Leagues (EFLI)
Elite Football league of India 2012
India (EFLI)
All India University American Football Championship (Seasons): 2015 2016
Bengaluru Cup 7v7 American Tackle Football Championship (Seasons): 2015
Sri Lanka (EFLI SL)
Elite Football League of India Sri Lanka – University Flag Football League 2015
Picture Credit: [10] China Arena Football League (2019) CAFL 2019 Competition Medal [Internet] Available from: http://caflfootball.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/CAFL-2019-Competition-Medal-768×768.png [Accessed 10 December 2019]
American Football Leagues started in countries like China, India, Philippines and Malaysia in the 2010s. For Japan, where the Rice Bowl, their equivalent of the Super Bowl which started in 1947 see: Japan American Football and for Korea, where their National University Championship started in 1958
East & South East Asia American Football
China (AFLC)
China (AFLC)
China Arena Football League 2016-2019
China Arena Football League (seasons): 2019
American Football League of China (Results)
Philippines (PAFL)
Philippines American Football League 2018-2019
Philippines American Football League (Seasons): 2019
Malaysia (MAFA)
Malaysia American Football Association Flag Football Rose Bowl (Seasons): 2019