The NFL has been engaging in international games since 2007, mostly attending games in the United Kingdom. Since then, the league has explored many more options and countries, most recently hosting a game in São Paulo, Brazil in 2024.
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NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced on Sunday morning that the league is planning a staggering eight games to be played internationally next season. While the UK and Germany are slated to be locations again, Goodell also announced a surprising country the league will attempt to visit.
While speaking on NFL Network, Goodell detailed the plans for the International Series in 2025.
“We are definitely going to Spain. We announced that. We expect to return to Mexico City. We expect to return to Brazil. We will certainly be back in the UK. And we are also looking at the potential of another game in the UK area, in Ireland. And we’ll certainly be back here in Germany.”
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The NFL will play a game in Madrid, Spain, which is already known. However, Goodell revealed for the first time ever that the league is exploring a situation where they can play a game in Ireland.
Though the NFL has played a game in England since 2007, this would be the first time that a game in Ireland would be played.
Goodell also revealed the plan is that eight games will be played internationally in 2025. Though this is just speculation, the league appears to be gearing up for the possibility of an international team being created sooner rather than later.
The popularity of American football has grown bigger and bigger since 2007, especially in the UK. Tickets for the sport in other countries often sell out very fast, meaning that the draw for the game is clearly growing every year.
It would make sense for the NFL to create a team somewhere in Mexico City first, considering that is the closest country that teams would have to travel to. However, the UK would also make sense considering the NFL has been playing a game in the area for nearly 15 years.
Either way, the international footprint of the NFL continues to grow, and Goodell is ensuring that the international market is growing right along with the fandom. It will be interesting to see what times and games will be hosted in these countries. The game in Brazil was played on a Friday versus the usual early morning Sunday time slot for games in the UK and Germany.
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