The game was based on American-style football and took place inside an enormous sphere of transparent, rubbery plastic.

But the N.F.L. has tried to build overseas interest in American-style football with limited success.

By going into key European markets now, the N.F.L. hopes to nurture the seeds for many more viewers who would watch American-style football.

There are 35 teams in France that play American-style football, and two of them will meet for the Casque d'Or.

The efforts of the coaches from both countries have helped American-style football in Moscow grow from a ragtag playground activity to an organized sport in six city schools.

Tagliabue isn't letting the mixed luck of the World League stop the N.F.L. from its mission to spread the gospel of American-style football overseas.

One of the most confusing concepts of American-style football is the down-and-distance system.

At the same time, the Berlin Eagles, the city's highly popular American-style football team, was playing for the national championship, losing to the Dusseldorf Panthers.

Also, as one European official noted, all four of these countries play either rugby or American-style football - violent games where success depends on hurting the other team.

He ran like southern California half-backs and wide receivers in American-style football.