In 2024, the league took a major leap, staging five regular-season games across England, Germany and Brazil. By 2025, that number has risen to seven. The NFL is expanding its global footprint with an aggressive long-term plan to bring the sport to fans everywhere.

Before the Pittsburgh Steelers and Minnesota Vikings hit Dublin’s Croke Park for Ireland’s first-ever regular-season NFL game on September 28, Roger Goodell just dropped the next big NFL international game update.

The Commissioner says after Australia, the league wants to go even bigger, eyeing Asia as the next frontier. “Our next step after Australia is probably moving games into Asia. We are serious about being a global sport,” he said.

Roger Goodell’s goal is to hit 16 international games a season. That way, every team gets at least one game outside the U.S. But it’s not just moving the stadiums around. The Australian debut game, scheduled for 2026 in Melbourne, will be the league’s farthest travel yet, and Asia’s turn will follow soon after.

Troy Vincent, the NFL’s Executive Vice President of Football Operations, summed it up perfectly: “American football is for all. It’s a global game, an all-inclusive sport, that provides the opportunity for all ages to enjoy the values, fun and competitive environment unique to the sport of football.”

After the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Los Angeles Chargers in São Paulo, the NFL takes a quick hop to Dublin. The 2025 schedule delivers seven games across Europe and the Americas, a collection designed to excite global fans.

After the game in Dublin, the Vikings then face the Cleveland Browns at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The NFL also has London, Berlin, and Madrid lined up.

The NFL knows how to meet fans where they live: online. They’re streaming games on YouTube, making it easier for the curious and hardcore alike to catch games anytime, anywhere. And they’ve roped in social media stars like MrBeast to reel in new eyeballs. The plan is to grow the sport globally with big games, digital reach, and influencer buzz. But why does it matter?

Why does expanding the NFL internationally matter?

The NFL’s Global Markets Program underpins all these efforts, now involving 29 teams across 21 international territories, including new markets like Greece and the UAE. Teams such as the Packers and Rams have expanded their overseas outreach, hosting fan events and rolling out localized content.

The league requires teams to earn five-year marketing rights to new markets, ensuring real investment and loyalty-building from the ground up.

Looking down the road, the significance of the 2026 Melbourne game can’t be overstated. It’s the league’s farthest step from home yet. Brazil steps up with a multi-year deal to host games at the iconic Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, marking an important South American milestone.

In the Middle East, Dubai and Abu Dhabi are under NFL consideration, with teams like the Rams and Commanders already holding marketing rights there. The league is studying how other major events have succeeded in the region as it prepares for potential future games.

Roger Goodell’s comments on Asia make the league’s bigger plan clear: this isn’t about occasional games in foreign lands. It’s about creating real homes for football around the world. While specifics remain under wraps, the NFL’s eyes are on key Asian cities as future hubs.