American football arrived in Catalonia in 1987 through Italian coach Alfonso Genchi, who persuaded Pere Moliner to create the first Spanish team: the Badalona Drags, in that original spelling. [1]
On 19 March 1988 the club played the first American football game ever held in Spain, against Italy's Palermo Cardinals, and in the autumn of that year it won the first Lliga Catalana, the country's first official competition. [1] [7]
According to FEFA's official records, the Dracs have won the LNFA eleven times (1998, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2021) and eight Copas de España, the latest in November 2025. [4] [2]
In 2025-26 they finished first in the East Conference and lost the Spanish Bowl (13-27) to Las Rozas Black Demons at the Estadi Municipal de Badalona. [5]
- 1998LNFA champion (Spanish Bowl)
- 1999LNFA champion (Spanish Bowl)
- 2002LNFA champion (Spanish Bowl)
- 2003LNFA champion (Spanish Bowl)
- 2004LNFA champion (Spanish Bowl)
- 2014LNFA champion (Spanish Bowl)
- 2016LNFA champion (Spanish Bowl)
- 2017LNFA champion (Spanish Bowl)
- 2018LNFA champion (Spanish Bowl)
- 2019LNFA champion (Spanish Bowl)
- 2021LNFA champion (Spanish Bowl)
- 1998Copa de España champion
- 2003Copa de España champion
- 2016Copa de España champion
- 2017Copa de España champion
- 2018Copa de España champion
- 2019Copa de España champion
- 2020Copa de España champion
- 2025Copa de España champion
- 1988First Lliga Catalana champion
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From Badalona to Madrid: the story of American football in Spain
Pillar article on how American football arrived in Spain, who brought it, how competitions were born and where the sport stands today. Every milestone links to its source.
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How Badalona Dracs, Spain's first football club, was born
The Dracs played Spain's first American football game in 1988 and have since won eleven leagues. This is what the sources allow us to tell today, and what remains to be documented.
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Sources
Last verified: 12 September 2026Links consulted for this piece. We record the access date because websites change.
- [1]
Federació Catalana de Futbol Americà (FCFA) · Federation · accessed 12 September 2026
Origins of football in Catalonia (1987), first game (19 March 1988), founding clubs and constitution of the federation.
- [2]
Badalona Dracs — ficha de equipo
Federación Española de Fútbol Americano (FEFA) · Federation · accessed 12 September 2026
- [3]
Badalona Dracs — fitxa de club
Federació Catalana de Futbol Americà (FCFA) · Federation · accessed 12 September 2026
- [4]
Federación Española de Fútbol Americano (FEFA) · Federation · accessed 12 September 2026
Champions of LNFA, LNFA 2, Copa de España, LNFA Femenina, Junior and Cadete.
- [5]
Federación Española de Fútbol Americano (FEFA) · Federation · 3 May 2026 · accessed 12 September 2026
- [6]
Definido el calendario de la LNFA para la temporada 2026-2027
Federación Española de Fútbol Americano (FEFA) · Federation · 9 September 2026 · accessed 12 September 2026
- [7]
Barcelona Búfals, el equipo de fútbol americano
Barcelona Búfals (web oficial) · Club official site · accessed 12 September 2026