The NFL’s international ambitions reached unprecedented levels in 2025 as the league staged a record seven games across five countries, marking the most ambitious overseas schedule in the sport’s history.
The expansion represents a dramatic evolution from the league’s modest beginnings abroad. The NFL’s international journey traces back to October 2, 2005, when the Arizona Cardinals defeated the San Francisco 49ers 31-14 at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City before a crowd of 103,467 fans. The game, marketed as “Fútbol Americano,” marked the first regular season contest played outside the United States and demonstrated that American football could captivate international audiences.
The overwhelming response convinced league officials to formalize their overseas commitment. Two years later, the NFL launched the International Series. On October 28, 2007, the New York Giants defeated the Miami Dolphins 13-10 at London’s Wembley Stadium in front of 81,176 fans, beginning what would become an annual tradition that has transformed the league’s global footprint.
From that single London game in 2007, the international slate expanded steadily. The league played one game annually in London through 2012, increased to two games in 2013, and reached three by 2014. The pandemic forced cancellation of all international games in 2020, but the series resumed in 2021 with two London contests.
Since 2007, the NFL has staged 55 regular season games outside the United States through the 2024 season. London has hosted the most with 36 regular season games across three venues: Wembley Stadium, Twickenham Stadium, and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, which opened in 2019 as the only purpose-built NFL stadium outside the United States.
Mexico City has seen five games at Estadio Azteca, while Germany has hosted three contests split between Munich and Frankfurt. Brazil joined the international roster in 2024 when Philadelphia defeated Green Bay in São Paulo, marking the NFL’s first game in South America.
The 2025 season represented a watershed moment for the league’s global strategy. Seven international games took place across five countries, including debuts in two new markets. Ireland welcomed its first NFL game on September 28 when Pittsburgh defeated Minnesota 24-21 at Dublin’s historic Croke Park, home of the Gaelic Athletic Association. Spain will host its inaugural game later this season when Miami plays Washington at Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid.
The Vikings made NFL history during this year’s international slate by becoming the first team to play back-to-back games in different countries. After facing the Steelers in Dublin, Minnesota traveled to London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to meet Cleveland on October 5, spending 10 days abroad between the two contests.
Berlin will host its first game when Atlanta meets Indianapolis at Olympiastadion, while Los Angeles will return to São Paulo to face Kansas City. London will again welcome three contests, cementing its status as the league’s primary international market.
The Jacksonville Jaguars have embraced international play more than any franchise, committing to play one home game annually in London from 2013 through 2024. The team has appeared in 13 London games, essentially establishing itself as the city’s adopted NFL team.
Looking further ahead, the NFL announced a multiyear commitment to play regular season games in Melbourne, Australia beginning in 2026, bringing the sport to its sixth continent. Commissioner Roger Goodell has stated he hopes the league will eventually play 16 international games per season, essentially matching a full schedule for one team.
The expansion strategy goes beyond simply playing games abroad. Through the International Home Marketing Areas initiative launched in 2022, 29 of 32 teams now hold marketing rights in at least one foreign country, allowing them to build fan bases and revenue streams in specific international territories. Teams can host events, sell merchandise, and engage with fans in their designated markets for five-year periods.
The initiative has expanded rapidly. Initially, 18 teams received marketing rights across eight countries starting in January 2022. By 2025, the program had grown to include countries such as Germany, Mexico, Brazil, Spain, Ireland, Austria, Switzerland, France, Argentina, Colombia, Japan, Nigeria, South Korea, Greece, and the United Arab Emirates.
The NFL has also invested in player development internationally through the International Pathway Program, which has been running since 2017. Philadelphia Eagles left tackle Jordan Mailata of Australia stands out as the biggest success story from the program.
Each team playing an international game receives compensation for giving up a home contest. The designated home team receives $1 million for relocating the game overseas, though teams increasingly view the international exposure and marketing opportunities as equally valuable.
Early concerns about competitive disadvantages for teams playing abroad have largely dissipated. Teams playing international games are 50-45-1 overall with an almost even point differential in the game following their overseas appearance, suggesting minimal hangover effects from the travel.
The quality of matchups has also improved significantly. From 2007 to 2021, no London games featured two teams that both entered with winning records. Since 2016, however, 26 of 68 teams that appeared in international games reached the playoffs that season, a notable improvement from earlier years when international games often featured struggling franchises.
What began as an experiment in Mexico City has evolved into a cornerstone of the NFL’s business strategy, bringing the game to millions of new fans while generating significant revenue and expanding the sport’s global footprint. With Australia on the horizon and continued growth in established markets, the NFL’s transformation into a truly international league appears inevitable.
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