NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has confirmed the league’s intention to establish multiple teams outside the United States, stating there is no doubt this will happen. This announcement builds on the NFL’s ongoing efforts to expand its international presence, which includes an increasing number of games played overseas.
The 2026 NFL season is already scheduled to feature nine international games across various countries. This includes a Week 1 matchup between the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia, and a Week 3 game with the Baltimore Ravens and Dallas Cowboys playing in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. Europe will host four consecutive weeks of games, with the Indianapolis Colts and Washington Commanders in London during Week 4, the Philadelphia Eagles and Jacksonville Jaguars also in London for Week 5, the Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley in Week 6, and the Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints in Paris for Week 7. Later in the season, the Cincinnati Bengals and Atlanta Falcons will play in Madrid, the New England Patriots and Detroit Lions in Munich, and the Minnesota Vikings and San Francisco 49ers in Mexico City.
A vote has already approved increasing the number of non-US games to up to 10 starting in 2027. This vote also removed teams’ ability to prevent their home games from being moved to an international host. Goodell further suggested that an international city could potentially host a Super Bowl, noting that such a city would likely need to host an NFL team first. While specific cities for international teams were not named, Goodell indicated that this expansion is part of a long-term plan, driven by the league’s desire to increase revenue and establish a permanent foothold in markets like Europe and Asia.
