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NFL Ownership Votes to Double International Games Beginning in 2025
NFL clubs voted to approve an increase in league-operated international games from four to up to eight games a season beginning in 2025, as the league continues to emphasize global growth as a major strategic priority.
Beginning in 2025, the NFL will have the right to schedule up to eight international regular season games per season. New markets and host cities for future seasons will be announced at later dates.
“Becoming a global sport is a major strategic priority for the league and 32 teams," said Roger Goodell, NFL commissioner. “Increasing international game inventory allows us to grow our global presence and share our game with exciting new markets to connect with more fans around the world."
The NFL also announced it will play a regular season game in São Paulo, Brazil – the first in South America – in 2024. With the game in Brazil, the NFL will have played a preseason or regular season game in five of the seven continents.
The 2024 NFL International Games will also have three games in London: two at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and a third at Wembley Stadium, where the Jacksonville Jaguars will play a home game as part of a multi-year partnership. A fifth game will have the NFL back in Germany for a third consecutive year, returning to Allianz Arena in Munich.
The NFL started playing regular season games internationally in 2005, when the Arizona Cardinals hosted the San Francisco 49ers at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. Since then, a total of 50 international regular season games have been played.
As part of the updated resolution approved by NFL ownership, no club would be required to play more than one regular season game outside of North America in the same season unless they specifically choose to.
Each club designated to play in an international regular season game will be permitted to select two of their regular season opponents that will not be eligible to be scheduled as their opponent in an international game. International games may not be scheduled after Week 14 of the NFL season.
Learn more about the NFL’s international series.
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