Asian American Football

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.

KAFA Logo [Reference: 1]

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

Emirates American Football League
Emirates American Football League Logo [References: 9]

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.

low angle photo of concrete building
Photo by Tobias Federle on Pexels.com

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)

EFLI Logo [References: 1]

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

CAFL Logo [References: 10]

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