Sunday marked the NFL’s first ever regular season game in Dublin. It could easily be followed up by future visits to the Irish capital along with a number of other international games. 
Expanding the league’s global reach has been a clear priority for several years now, and in the spring commissioner Roger Goodell stated his intention of seeing 16 international games become an annual feature of the schedule. Goodell recently confirmed (via ESPN’s Brooke Pryor) that remains the case, with the goal being one overseas contest per team per year.
“In today’s world, we have to be global,” Goodell said (via Pryor). “Every time we play an international game, fans say they want more. I really, truly believe our game can and will be global. Our job is to share our game with the rest of the world.”
Dating back to 2007, the NFL has staged dozens of regular season games outside the United States with the majority taking place in Europe. Each of the past two seasons have included contests taking place in Brazil as well, however. São Paulo has played host to a pair of contests, but it became clear earlier this month the NFL was interested in trying Rio de Janeiro as a host city. The league has since announced (via NFL.com) Rio will indeed become the site for games beginning in 2026.
Over the next five years, no fewer than three NFL games will be played at the Maracanã Stadium. The iconic venue has a capacity of over 70,000 and has played host to a pair of FIFA World Cup finals along with the 2016 Summer Olympics. It would come as little surprise if a second long-term agreement were to be reached provided this upcoming trial phase proves to be successful.
The NFL is making inroads into Berlin and Madrid with games taking place there this season in addition to familiar host cities such as London and Munich. 2026 will also see Melbourne join the list of NFL sites with the Rams operating as the designated home team for the NFL’s first game in Australia. Goodell noted that over the long term, expanding into Asia will likely be the league’s next step.
Even if that proves to be several years away, a long list of host cities will exist in the near term for the NFL. With the regular season still widely expected to reach 18 games relatively soon, the league’s calendar could very well feature one annual international contest for each of its teams in short order.
Rodger goodell needs to be drug tested
The NFL has cheapened the international games – there are too many each year already.
The greed of the owners knows no bounds.
Anybody who watches NFL hates these games. As a season ticket holder sometimes takes away a home game. Players I’m sure could do without them. Only Roger Goodell wants them. I’m sure they’re padding his pocket
The NFL needs that every team has to have just as many traveling miles with international games! If you are a playoff team and on the bottom of traveling miles you can’t host a playoff game compared to other teams that traveling more miles! Buffalo is on the bottom for traveling miles this Season shouldn’t be allowed to host playoff Games.
How can the “National” Football League be international. Here’s an idea, start the IFL and leave the U.S. teams as a separate entity, maybe do pre-season games together? This money grab is going to go so badly for the NFL.
Fans aren’t saying they want more. The people making the money are saying they want more.
This is bogus. Most stadiums are built specifically for NFL teams to utilize. This costs taxpayer dollars and often are given tax breaks which reduces tax revenue in these cities.
It is a slap in the face to steal a home game from a city whete residents pay these taxes and benefit from the travel coming into their city.
What an absolute farce. This is an American sport. If you want to expand there are American cities that have waited long enough to get teams first before we expand to any other country.
This is a shame.