With only one weekend remaining in the 2026 Italian Football League regular season for most teams, the playoff picture is beginning to come into focus. The Firenze Guelfi remain the league’s dominant force, while the battle for semifinal positioning and the final wild card spots remains unsettled heading into the final round.
Three teams — the Torino Giaguari, Ancona Dolphins and Lazio Marines — have already completed their regular season schedules while the remaining six clubs still have one game left to play.
The playoffs open with the wild card round on the weekend of June 13/14, featuring #3 facing #6 and #4 playing #5.
1. Firenze Guelfi (7-0)
The Guelfi strengthened their grip on first place with perhaps their most impressive result of the season, rolling past the Legnano Frogs 48-24. Firenze exploded offensively once again while exposing cracks in one of the league’s top defenses. Winners of 19 straight games dating back to the end of the 2024 season, the Guelfi have averaged nearly 47 points per game while allowing just 16.
Firenze closes the regular season against the Bologna Warriors with home field throughout the playoffs already secured.
2. Legnano Frogs (5-2)
Legnano’s hopes of catching Firenze disappeared following the 48-24 loss to the unbeaten Guelfi. Despite the defeat, the Frogs still remain in strong position to secure a semifinal bye, although pressure is mounting from both Parma and Torino behind them.
The Frogs conclude the regular season against the Parma Panthers in what has suddenly become one of the biggest games of the year.
3. Torino Giaguari (5-3)
The Giaguari have completed their regular season schedule after quietly putting together one of the strongest finishes in the league. Torino’s biggest statement came with a 23-21 upset victory over the Parma Panthers, a result that ultimately secured a wild card playoff berth while keeping pressure on the teams above them.
Now finished for the regular season, Torino must wait and see where they land in the playoff bracket.
4. Ancona Dolphins (5-3)
Ancona closed out its regular season by defeating the Milano Rhinos 56-40 in a wild offensive shootout. The Dolphins have now won five of their final six games after a slow start and suddenly look like one of the hottest teams entering the postseason.
With their schedule complete, the Dolphins now wait to learn whether they will open the playoffs at home during wild card weekend.
5. Parma Panthers (5-2)
The Panthers suffered one of the more surprising defeats of the weekend, falling 33-26 to the Lazio Marines and missing an opportunity to strengthen their hold on a semifinal bye. Parma remains one of the league’s most talented rosters, but inconsistency defensively continues to be an issue.
Everything now comes down to the regular season finale against the Legnano Frogs. A win could completely reshape the playoff picture.
6. Lazio Marines (3-5)
The Marines may have kept their playoff hopes alive with the upset of the weekend, knocking off Parma 33-26 to close out their regular season schedule. Lazio has struggled for consistency all year, but the victory over the Panthers showed the talent that has flashed throughout the season.
Now finished at 3-5, the Marines can only wait and hope results elsewhere fall their way.
7. Ferrara Aquile (2-5)
Ferrara enters the final weekend with its playoff hopes still mathematically alive, although the margin for error is gone completely. The Aquile have lost four straight games after opening the season 2-1 and now face a must-win situation against the Milano Rhinos.
Even with a victory, Ferrara may still require help to climb into the wild card round.
8. Bologna Warriors (1-6)
The Warriors remain near the bottom of the standings but at least avoided a winless season thanks to their earlier 56-42 victory over Milano. Bologna has shown offensive flashes at times, although defensive struggles have made it difficult to compete consistently.
Their season concludes with the toughest possible assignment: unbeaten Firenze.
9. Milano Rhinos (0-7)
The Rhinos continued their difficult season with a 56-40 loss to the Dolphins, although Milano’s offense at least showed signs of life in one of its highest-scoring performances of the year. Unfortunately for the Rhinos, defensive problems have plagued them throughout the season.
Milano’s final opportunity to avoid a winless campaign comes against the Ferrara Aquile this coming weekend.
