CONTENTS
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Why not check out the concept league British Football League
World League of American Football (WLAF) operated from 1991 to 1992 with teams split between Europe and North America (including Canada). After the 1992 season, the league went on hiatus before returning as a Europe‑only competition in 1995, a format it kept until folding after the 2007 NFL Europa season.
The Raleigh–Durham Skyhawks, who failed to win a game in 1991, were replaced by the Ohio Glory for the 1992 season. Following that year, the league suspended operations.
European Division
TEAMS |
SEASONS | STADIUM | |
|---|---|---|---|
  |
BARCELONA DRAGONS |
1991-1992 |
 Estadi Olímpic de Montjuic (BARCELONA, ES) (1991-1992) |
  |
FRANKFURT GALAXY |
1991-1992 |
 WALDSTADION (FRANKFURT, DE) (1991-1992) |
  |
LONDON MONARCHS(1) |
1991-1992 |
 WEMBLEY STADIUM (LONDON, ENGLAND) (1991-1992) |
DIVISION CHAMPIONS
| 1991 | |
LONDON MONARCHS |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 |  |
BARCELONA DRAGONS |
North American East Division
  |
MONTREAL MACHINE |
1991-1992 |
 (OLYMPIC STADIUM) (MONTREAL, CANADA) (1991-1992) |
|---|---|---|---|
  |
NEW YORK/NEW JERSEY KNIGHTS |
1991-1992 |  (GIANTS STADIUM) (E.RUTHERFORD, NJ) (1991-1992) |
  |
OHIO GLORY |
1992 |
 (OHIO STADIUM) (COLUMBUS, OH) (1992) |
  |
ORLANDO THUNDER |
1991-1992 |
 (CITRUS BOWL) (ORLANDO, FL) (1991-1992) |
TEAMS |
ONLY SEASON | STADIUM | |
  |
RALEIGH-DURHAM SKYHAWKS |
1991 |
 Carter-Finley Stadium (RALEIGH, NC) (1991) |
DIVISION HISTORY
| Years | Teams Added |
|---|---|
| 1991 | MONTREAL MACHINE NEW YORK/NEW JERSEY KNIGHTS ORLANDO THUNDER RALEIGH-DURHAM SKYHAWKS |
| 1992 | MONTREAL MACHINE NEW YORK/NEW JERSEY KNIGHTS ORLANDO THUNDER RALEIGH-DURHAM SKYHAWKS |
| RALEIGH-DURHAM SKYHAWKS › OHIO GLORY |
DIVISION CHAMPIONS
| SEASON | TEAM |
|
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | |
NEW YORK/NEW JERSEY KNIGHTS |
| 1992 | |
ORLANDO THUNDER |
North American West Division
TEAMS |
SEASONS | STADIUM | |
|---|---|---|---|
  |
BIRMINGHAM FIRE |
1991-1992 |
 LEGION FIELD (BIRMINGHAM, AL) (1991-1992) |
  |
SACRAMENTO SURGE(1) |
1991-1992 |  HORNET STADIUM (SACRAMENTO, CA) (1992) |
  |
SAN ANTONIO RIDERS |
1991-1992 |  BOBCAT STADIUM (SAN MARCOS, TX) (1991-1992) |
DIVISION CHAMPIONS
| SEASON | TEAM |
|
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | |
BIRMINGHAM FIRE |
| 1992 | |
SACRAMENTO SURGE |
WLAF US Team Profiles
Birmingham Fire (1991–1992)
Stadiums
- Legion Field, Birmingham,AL (1991-1992)
- World League of American Football (1991-1992)
- North American West Division (1991-1992)
- 1991, 1992
Montreal Machine (1991–1992)
Stadiums
- Olympic Stadium, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (1991–1992)
- World League of American Football (1991-1992)
- North American East Division (1991-1992)
New York/New Jersey Knights (1991–1992)
Stadiums
- Giants Stadium, East Rutherford,NJ, USA (1991–1992)
- World League of American Football (1991-1992)
- North American East Division (1991-1992)
- 1991
Ohio Glory (1992)
Stadiums
- Ohio Stadium, Columbus,OH (1992)
- World League of American Football (1992)
- North American East Division (1992)
Orlando Thunder (1991–1992)
Stadiums
- Florida Citrus Bowl, Orlando,FL,USA (1991–1992)
- World League of American Football (1992)
- North American East Division (1991-1992)
- 1992
Raleigh–Durham Skyhawks (1991)
Stadiums
- Carter–Finley Stadium, Raleigh,NC,USA (1991)
- World League of American Football (1992)
- North American East Division (1991)
Sacramento Surge (1991–1992)
Stadiums
- Hughes Stadium, Sacramento,CA,USA (1991)
- Hornet Stadium, Sacramento,CA,USA (1992)
- World League of American Football (1991-1992)
- North American West Division (1991-1992)
- 1992
San Antonio Riders (1991–1992)
Stadiums
- Alamo Stadium, San Antonio,TX,USA (1991)
- Alamo Stadium, San Marcos,TX,USA (1992)
- World League of American Football (1991-1992)
- North American West Division (1991-1992)
History
| Season | Team | Change | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | The NFL establishes the World League of American Football (WLAF) as a spring developmental league. | ||
| 1991 | Barcelona Dragons Frankfurt Galaxy London Monarchs Montreal Machine New York/New Jersey Knights Orlando Thunder Raleigh–Durham Skyhawks Birmingham Fire Sacramento Surge San Antonio Riders |
Founding Members | The WLAF begins play with 10 teams across North America, Europe, and Canada. London Monarchs win the first World Bowl. |
| 1992 | Raleigh–Durham Skyhawks | Folded | Skyhawks are replaced by the Ohio Glory |
| - | Folded | The Sacramento Surge win World Bowl II. The league is suspended after the season for restructuring. |
1992 WLAF Season
Following the 1992 WLAF season, the league went on hiatus before returning with the 1995 WLAF season.
Standings
| European Division | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RK | TEAM | GP | REC | |
| 1 | |
Barcelona Dragons | 10 | 5-5 |
| 2 | |
Frankfurt Galaxy | 10 | 3-7 |
| 3 | |
London Monarchs | 10 | 2-7-1 |
| North American East Division | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RK | TEAM | GP | REC | |
| 1 | |
Orlando Thunder | 10 | 8-2 |
| 2 | |
New York/New Jersey Knights | 10 | 6-4 |
| 3 | |
Montreal Machine | 10 | 2-8 |
| 3 | |
Ohio Glory | 10 | 1-9 |
| North American West Division | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RK | TEAM | GP | REC | |
| 1 | |
Sacramento Surge | 10 | 8-2 |
| 2 | |
Birmingham Fire | 10 | 7-2-1 |
| 3 | |
San Antonio Riders | 10 | 7-3 |
1992 SEASON Playoffs
Playoff Teams: Sacramento, Orlando, Barcelona, Birmingham
Semifinals
Orlando Thunder 45-7 Birmingham Fire
Sacramento Surge 17-15 Barcelona Dragons
World Bowl '92
Sacramento Surge 21-17 Orlando Thunder
Synopsis: The Surge captured their first title by defeating Orlando in World Bowl II. Raleigh–Durham were replaced by Ohio Glory, and the league suspended operations after the season.
1991 WLAF Season
Standings
| European Division | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RK | TEAM | GP | REC | |
| 1 | |
London Monarchs | 10 | 9-1 |
| 2 | |
Barcelona Dragons | 10 | 8-2 |
| 3 | |
Frankfurt Galaxy | 10 | 7-3 |
| North American East Division | ||||
| 1 | |
New York/New Jersey Knights | 10 | 5-5 |
| 2 | |
Orlando Thunder | 10 | 5-5 |
| 3 | |
Montreal Machine | 10 | 4-6 |
| 3 | |
Raleigh-Durham Skyhawks | 10 | 0-10 |
| North American West Division | ||||
| 1 | |
Birmingham Fire | 10 | 5-5 |
| 2 | |
San Antonio Riders | 10 | 4-6 |
| 3 | |
Sacramento Surge | 10 | 3-7 |
1991 SEASON Playoffs
Playoff Teams: London, Barcelona, Frankfurt, Birmingham
Semifinals
London Monarchs 42-26 New York/New Jersey Knights
Barcelona Dragons 10-3 Birmingham Fire
World Bowl '91
London Monarchs 21-0 Barcelona Dragons
Synopsis: The WLAF's inaugural season featured teams across North America and Europe. London dominated the league and completed a standout year by shutting out Barcelona in World Bowl I.
Playoffs
World Bowl
These are the playoffs and World Bowl results for the original WLAF before its return with the 1995 WLAF season, in which the Division Champions plus a Wild Card team (with next best record) qualified for the Playoffs.
WLAF SEMI-FINALS
| SEASON | WINNER | SCORE | LOSER |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | BARCELONA DRAGONS |
10 VS 3 | BIRMINGHAM FIRE |
LONDON MONARCHS |
42 @ 26 | NEW YORK/NEW JERSEY KNIGHTS |
|
| 1992 | ORLANDO THUNDER |
45 @ 7 | BIRMINGHAM FIRE |
|
17 VS 15 | BARCELONA DRAGONS |
World Bowl Results (1991-1992)
Complete World Bowl results can be found here.
| SEASON | WINNER | SCORE | LOSER | STADIUM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| '91 1991  |
LONDON MONARCHS (1) |
21-0 | BARCELONA DRAGONS |
Wembley Stadium(1) London,UK(1) |
| '92 1992  |
SACRAMENTO SURGE (1) |
21-17 | ORLANDO THUNDER |
Olympic Stadium(1) MONTREAL,CA(1) |