Canada Travels to Germany for November 16 GNC Finale

Gridiron Nations Championship Game set

Canada faces Germany on “Grey Cup Morning” in Bochum

Vancouver & Dortmund – Canada will travel to Germany this fall to conclude the inaugural Gridiron Nations Championship (GNC) on November 16, 2025, at Lohrheidestadion – Wattenscheid in Bochum, Germany. Kickoff is at 1400 CET, or 0800 EST.

The Gridiron Nations Championship is an international men's tackle football competition, developed by participating national teams. Inspired by the formats of rugby’s Six Nations and Four Nations competitions, the GNC brings together elite national teams for an annual showcase of high-level intercontinental gridiron football. The inaugural edition features Canada, Italy, and Germany in a three-team round-robin format spanning from April to November 2025.

The winner of the GNC will be determined by overall record, with the November fixture in Germany serving as the potential title decider. If all three teams finish with one win and one loss, tiebreakers will be applied based on point differential.

On April 19, Canada shut out Italy 56–0 in Cagliari, Sardinia, where True North dominated in every aspect of the game. Canada’s suffocating defence held Italy to –10 total yards, while the offense exploded for multiple scores. With a roster composed of CFL alumni and U Sports veterans, Team Canada showed its readiness to re-enter global competition after more than a decade of dormancy.

Germany — known as “The Men in Black” — now await the Canadians on home soil. A perennial powerhouse in European play, they are backed by one of Europe’s strongest domestic leagues — the German Football League (GFL) — Germany remains a formidable force in global play.

“Germany is proud to host this landmark international game on home soil,” said AFVD Vice President Andreas Kelgemann.

“This competition elevates the profile of European football and gives our national team an opportunity to measure itself against world-class opposition. The 2025 GNC is a key platform for the future of international tackle football.”

Germany and Italy will also compete in the 2025 IFAF European Championships, beginning October 25, with Germany opening against Austria and Italy facing Finland. Should Germany and Italy not meet in the European final, the team with the better record at the Euros will be credited with a victory.

“Games like this are essential for the growth of the sport,” said Team Canada head coach Jesse Maddox.

“We’re excited to take on a top-tier program like Germany creating a new starting point and championship within a global competition. The Nations Championship is exactly what international football needs — regular, meaningful games between national teams.”

Canada’s senior men’s team, which has only appeared once in the IFAF World Championship (earning silver in 2011), has been revived after a long absence. Canada’s junior men’s program has won three straight IFAF U20 World Championships, and the GNC represents a new pathway for world competition at the senior level.

Ticket and broadcast information for the 2025 GNC Final game in Bochum will be announced in the coming weeks.