The NFL has big ambitions to continue growing its brand around the globe. In 2025, there will be five games as part of the NFL International Series, with Berlin set to host their first regular season contest.
In the United States, the NFL is one of the major sports leagues in the country. However, viewing figures of the league continue to rise elsewhere, particularly in Europe and South America.
Super Bowl the Showcase Event In the NFL
All roads lead to the Super Bowl in the NFL, the season-ending championship game. The Buffalo Bills are the 4/1 favourites in the sports betting to lift the Vince Lombardi Trophy following Super Bowl LIX in February.
You can follow the results from the NFL playoffs in the Paddy Power blog, with the Conference Championship games determining who will book their spots at Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans this season.
There has been growing speculation that the Super Bowl may be played outside of the United States for the first time in the near future. Wembley Stadium in London has been discussed as a possible venue. The Major of London has held talks with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell about the prospect, while Brazil and Germany have also shown interest in securing the biggest game in the sport.
Interest In the NFL In London Has Never Wavered
London has been holding regular season NFL games since 2007. 81,176 were in attendance to see the New York Giants defeat the Miami Dolphins 13-10. Since then, crowds at both Wembley and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium have remained at capacity. For the most recent NFL International Series game at the national stadium in London, 86,651 saw the Jacksonville Jaguars beat the New England Patriots 32-16.
In 2016, Mexico was added to the International Series and has hosted four games since then. 78,427 watched the San Francisco 49ers get the better of the Arizona Cardinals in 2022 at the Estadio Azteca.
Germany joined the UK as the second European country to host a regular season NFL game in 2022. Both Munich and Frankfurt held matches, with interest high in both of those cities. Just over 70,000 were at the Allianz Stadium in 2024 to see the Carolina Panthers prevail in overtime against the New York Giants.
In week one of the 2024/25 NFL season, the Philadelphia Eagles beat the Green Bay Packers in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The South American country became the fourth country to join the NFL International Series.
Dublin and Madrid Likely to Be New Hosts In 2025
It is expected that there could be up to eight NFL International Series games in 2025, the highest in the history of the league. Dublin and Madrid are two cities that are rumoured to both receive regular season matches.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have built a strong relationship with Ireland in recent years and they could be the home team at Croke Park in Dublin, while in Madrid, the Philadelphia Eagles are likely to feature at the Real Madrid stadium in week one of the 2025/26 season.
With the NFL continuing to grow around the world, demand from other countries to join the NFL International Series is likely to increase.
