Panama to Host 2026 GNC this December
- GNC Editorial
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Gridiron Nations Championship Returns in 2026 with GNC Week Set for Panama City
Canada, Mexico and Panama confirmed for December 12–19
PANAMA CITY, Panama & VANCOUVER, Canada — The Gridiron Nations Championship (GNC) will return in 2026 with GNC Week scheduled for December 12–19 in Panama City, featuring confirmed participation from Canada, Mexico and Panama.
This early announcement of the 2026 GNC Week window allows organizers and participating federations to begin work well in advance on commercial planning, including sponsorship development and broadcast partnership discussions, as the competition continues to build a stable annual platform for international tackle football in the Americas and beyond.
The 2026 event will bring championship tackle football to the Americas during GNC Week, from December 12-19, as teams compete for international silverware in the premier annual window for men’s international tackle football.
The event will be hosted at Estadio Emilio Royo in Panama City, in partnership with the Asociación de Football Americano de Panamá (AFFP).
As host federation, Luis Navas, President of the Asociación de Football Americano de Panamá (AFFP), said Panama is ready to welcome the top active national programs to a major global competition.
“Panama is proud to host GNC Week in 2026 and welcome top national teams to Panama City. This is a major opportunity for our federation, our athletes and our fans to showcase Panama as a host for international tackle football. We are very pleased this announcement is being made early, because it gives all of us time to prepare properly and to build strong partnerships.”
Building on the first GNC campaign
The 2026 tournament follows Canada’s landmark run in the inaugural GNC competition window in Europe, where the Canadian men’s national tackle team spent the entire GNC campaign on the road and delivered victories in Italy (20-17) and Germany (25-10), securing the first GNC title in November.
That run helped deliver the first global men’s tackle competition cycle of its kind since the 2015 IFAF World Championship in Canton, Ohio, while showcasing Canada’s commitment to bringing international football directly to established and emerging markets abroad.
In 2026, the stakes rise again.
Jesse Maddox, GM/Head Coach of Team Canada, said the 2026 format builds on the momentum created by Canada’s road campaign and the dramatic exhibition Mexico City matchup.
“We’re excited to see the GNC return and to compete for a championship in Panama City. Last year, our players embraced the challenge of spending the entire GNC on the road in Europe, and they delivered against quality opposition in Italy and Germany. We also saw the level with Mexico in December, and that overtime game in Mexico City (a 41-34 Mexico win) showed exactly what international tackle football can be. This time, the games count toward a title, raising the standard for everyone. This is an important next step in building an annual platform for international tackle football.”
Cesar Barrera, President of the Federación Mexicana de Futbol Americano (FMFA), said the 2026 event gives teams in the region a meaningful championship setting and another opportunity to elevate the game.
“Mexico is pleased to be part of the 2026 Gridiron Nations Championship in Panama City. Our game against Canada in Mexico City showed the quality, intensity and passion that exists in international tackle football, and we are excited that this time the competition will be played in a championship format with silverware on the line. Events like this help strengthen elite tackle football in our region and create a bigger stage for our national teams.”
About the Gridiron Nations Championship (GNC)
The Gridiron Nations Championship is an annual global tackle football competition platform created to provide consistent, high-level intercontinental tests for national teams while supporting the long-term development of the world senior amateur game.
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