WLAF stands for World League of American Football. It was an international professional American football league founded in 1991 as a way to expand the popularity and market of American football worldwide. The league was comprised of teams from both North America and Europe and operated for two seasons from 1991 to 1992.
The WLAF was distinctive for its multinational nature, with the league bridging the American football gap between the United States and Europe. It featured teams from various cities in the United States, including New York, Orlando, Sacramento, and San Antonio, as well as teams from London, Frankfurt, Barcelona, and Montreal.
The league aimed to promote American football to a global audience and foster international cooperation among football enthusiasts. It aimed to provide an opportunity for players outside the traditional American football system to showcase their talent and potentially secure contracts with professional teams in the NFL. Additionally, the WLAF sought to expand the market reach of American football by introducing the sport to new regions and engaging fans from different cultural backgrounds.
Despite its ambitious goals and initial success, the WLAF encountered financial difficulties and eventually suspended operations after the 1992 season. However, its legacy lived on as the league rebranded and relaunched in 1995 as the NFL Europe, continuing the mission of promoting American football in Europe until it ceased operations in 2007.
In summary, the World League of American Football (WLAF) was an international professional American football league that operated from 1991 to 1992. Its purpose was to expand the popularity of American football worldwide, bridging the gap between the United States and Europe. The league consisted of teams from various American cities as well as European cities and aimed to provide an opportunity for players to showcase their talent internationally.
