Countries playing Australian rules football
List of countries with registered players of Australian rules football
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Note: In order to be recognised as a true national team and not simply expatriates (for the purposes of this entry), the list is subject to International Cup eligibility rules.[1]
Australian Football League has official affiliation agreements with 15 international governing bodies, ARFL Ireland, AFL Canada, Danish Australian Football League, AFL Scotland, AFL England, AFL Wales, AFL Japan, Nauru Australian Football Association, AFL New Zealand, USAFL, AFL South Africa, AFL PNG, AFL Samoa, Tonga Australian Football Association, AFL Germany and AFL Middle East, although it has working relations with leagues and clubs in further countries.
However, while these affiliations are in place, Australia is the only nation that actively engages in this sport at a professional level.
Africa
Countries with established league(s) and non-Australian-based national team:
| Country | Overview | National team | Major teams/clubs | Governing Body | Main league competition(s) | Main cup competition(s) | Best Men's International performance (tournament) | Best Women's International performance (tournament) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 South Africa | Overview[2] | Lions (formerly Buffaloes) | AFL South Africa | North West Province Gauteng Province | 3rd, (IC2008) | |||
Other nations with some history of Australian Rules:
| Country | Overview | National team | Major teams/clubs | Governing Body | Main league competition(s) | Main cup competition(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Botswana | Overview[3] | None | None | None | None | None | |
 Ghana | Overview[4] | None | None | None | None | None | |
 Kenya | Overview[5] | None | None | None | None | None | |
 Senegal | Overview | None | None | None | None | None | |
 Uganda | Overview[6] | None | None | None | None | None | |
 Western Sahara | Overview[7] | None | None | None | None | None | |
 Zimbabwe | Overview | None | None | None | None | None | |
Americas
Countries with established league(s) and non-Australian-based national team:
| Country | Overview | National team | Teams/clubs | Governing Body | Main league competition(s) | Main cup competition(s) | Best Men's International performance (tournament) | Best Women's International performance (tournament) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Canada | Overview | Northwind (men's), Northern Lights (women's) | 40+ | AFL Canada | OAFL BCAFL AFL Quebec CWAFL | USAFL National Championships | 6th (IC2008) | |
 United States | Overview | Revolution (men's), Freedom (women's) | 50+ | USAFL | MAAFL EAFL NWPAFL SEAFL WAFA | USAFL National Championships | 3rd (IC2005) | |
 Colombia | Overview | Jaguares (men's), (women's) | Bogota Bulldogs | AFL Colombia | ||||
Other countries with some history of Australian Rules:
Asia
Main articles: Australian rules football in Asia and Australian rules football in the Middle East
Countries with an established league(s) and non-Australian-based national team:
| Country | Overview | National team | Major teams/clubs | Governing Body | Main league competition(s) | Main cup competition(s) | Best Men's International performance (tournament) | Best Women's International performance (tournament) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Japan | Overview | Samurais | Tokyo Goannas | AFL Japan | JAFL | Asian Championships Narita Cup | 8th (IC2008) | |
Countries with at least one active club and/or national team including Australian players:
| Country | Overview | National team | Major teams/clubs | Governing Body | Main league competition(s) | Main cup competition(s) | Best Men's International performance (tournament) | Best Women's International performance (tournament) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Brunei | Overview | Sharks | BARFL | Asian Championships | ||||
 China | Overview | Beijing Bombers Shanghai Tigers Tianjin Normal University | Asian Championships | 15th, 2008 | ||||
 Hong Kong | Overview | Dragons | Asian Championships | |||||
 India | Overview[12][13][14] | AFL India | 16th, 2008 | |||||
 Indonesia | Overview[15] | Jakarta Bintangs Jakarta Bulldogs Bali Geckos Banda Aceh Bandits Borneo Bears | WeJAFL | Asian Championships Pancawati Cup Java-Bali Cup Bali 9s | ||||
 Israel | Overview[16] | Peres Peace Team, Israel Beasts | Tel Aviv Cheetahs | AFL Israel | Israel Cup | 6th at the 2024 Euro Cup (Out of 14 teams) | ||
 Laos | Overview | Lao Elephants | ||||||
 Malaysia | Overview | Warriors | Asian Championships | |||||
 Pakistan | Overview[17][18] | Dragoons | AFL Pakistan | Swat | ||||
 Philippines | Overview[19][20] | Philippine Eagles | Philippine Eagles | PAFL | Asian Championships | |||
 Qatar | Overview | Doha | Dubai 9s | |||||
 Singapore | Overview | Singapore Wombats | Asian Championships | |||||
 Thailand | Overview | Thailand Tigers | Asian Championships | |||||
 United Arab Emirates | Overview[21][22][23] | Dubai Dingoes Dubai Dragons Dubai Heat | Asian Championships Dubai 9s | |||||
 Vietnam | Overview | Vietnam Swans | AFL Asia | SAFL HAFL | Asian Championships | |||
Countries with some history of Australian Rules and/or a club in development:
| Country | Overview | National team | Major teams/clubs | Governing Body | Main league competition(s) | Main cup competition(s) | Best Men's International performance (tournament) | Best Women's International performance (tournament) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 East Timor | Overview | Crocodiles | ||||||
 Lebanon | Overview[24] | Falcons | ||||||
 Macau | Overview | Lightning | None | None | None | None | ||
 South Korea | Overview | None | None | None | None | None | ||
 Sri Lanka | Overview | Lions | None | None | None | None |
Europe
+Countries with an established league and/or non-Australian-based national team:
| Country | Overview | National team | Major teams/clubs | Governing Body | Main league competition(s) | Main cup competition(s) | Best Men's International performance (tournament) | Best Women's International performance (tournament) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Austria | Overview | Avalanche | Styrian DownUnderDogs
Vienna Galahs |
CEAFL Cup, EU Cup | ||||
 Catalonia | Overview | LFAC | LFAC | EU Cup | ||||
 Czech Republic | Overview | Dragons | Prague Dragons | CAAFL | CAAFL League | EU Cup | ||
 Denmark | Overview | Vikings | Farum Cats | DAFL | DAFL Premier League | Doctor's Cup | 4th, 2002 | |
 Croatia | Overview | Knights | Zagreb Hawks, Agram Power, Velika Gorica Bombers | CAARF | CRO League | EU Cup | ||
 England | Overview | Dragonslayers (Form part of the Great Britain Bulldogs for the IC) | AFL Britain | AFL London Southern Division Central & North West Division North East Division | Brit Cup EU Cup | |||
 France | Overview[25] | Les Bleus | Aix-Marseille Dockers Bordeaux Bombers Montpellier Fire Sharks Paris Cockerels Perpignan Tigers Strasbourg Kangaroos Toulouse Crocodiles | UFFA | UFFA ARFLF | EU Cup | 14th, 2011 | |
 Finland | Overview[26] | Ice Breakers | Helsinki Heatseekers Salo Juggernauts Espoo Roos Turku Dockers Waasa Wombats | FAFL | EU Cup | 14th, 2008 | ||
 Germany | Overview | Black Eagles | Munich Kangaroos Frankfurt Redbacks Rheinland Lions Hamburg Dockers Berlin Crocodiles Stuttgart Emus | AFLG | AFLG | EU Cup, Tri-Nations | ||
 Iceland | Overview | Ravens | Bulls Eagles Dragons | IceAFL | EU Cup | |||
 Ireland | Overview | Warriors | ARFLI | ARFLI | 1st, 2002 and 2011 | |||
 Italy | Overview | Azzurri | Roma Blues Milano Aussie Rulers Genova Dockers | AFL Italia | ||||
 Montenegro | Overview | Survivors | AFL Crnu Gora | |||||
 Netherlands | Overview[27] | The Flying Dutchmen | Delft Blues
Waterland Eagles |
DAFA | DAFA Premiership | EU Cup | ||
 Norway | Overview | Trolls | Oslo Crows Ås Battlers Tromsø | |||||
 Scotland | Overview | Clansmen (Form part of the Great Britain Bulldogs for the IC), Sirens | Edinburgh Bloods Glasgow Sharks Greater Glasgow Giants Kingdom Kangaroos West Lothian Eagles | AFL Britain | SARFL | Haggis Cup EU Cup | ||
 Spain | Overview | Bulls | Madrid Bears Móstoles Kangaroos | 10th, 2005 | ||||
 Sweden | Overview | Elks | AFL Sweden | SAFL SAFF | Tri-Nations | 8th, 2008 | ||
 Switzerland | Steinbocks | Winterthur Lions Basel Dragons Geneva Jets | AFL Switzerland | |||||
 United Kingdom | Overview | Bulldogs | AFL Britain WARFL SARFL | 6th, 2002 & 2005 | ||||
 Wales | Overview | Cymru Red Dragons (Form part of the Great Britain Bulldogs for the IC) | Cardiff Double Blues Gwent Tigers South Cardiff Panthers Swansea Magpies Vale Warriors | AFL Britain | WARFL | Dragon Cup | ||
Countries with at least one active club and/or national team including Australian players:
| Country | Overview | National team | Major teams/clubs | Governing Body | Main league competition(s) | Main cup competition(s) | Best Men's International performance (tournament) | Best Women's International performance (tournament) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Belgium | Overview | Brussels Saints | EU Cup | |||||
 Poland | Overview | Polish Devils | Warsaw Bisons, Fort Nysa, Wrocław Lions | AFL Polska | AFL Polska | EU Cup | ||
 Russia | Overview | Czars | The Pirates The Shooters Slavyane St. Petersburg Cats Lazy Coalas | ФАФР | EU Cup | |||
 Hungary | Overview | Cats | Budapest Bats | AFL Hungary | EU Cup | |||
Other countries with some history of Australian Rules:
| Country | Overview | National team | Major teams/clubs | Governing Body | Main league competition(s) | Main cup competition(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Georgia | Overview | Ozirulz Georgia | |||||
Oceania
Countries with active league(s) and national teams.
Other countries with some history of Australian Rules:
| Country | Overview | National team | Major teams/clubs | Governing Body | Main league competition(s) | Main cup competition(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Solomon Islands | Overview |
