The National Football League is continuing its push to become a truly global sport, and Roger Goodell has made the league’s ambitions crystal clear.
Speaking during a panel discussion in Ireland, ahead of Sunday’s historic game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Pittsburgh Steelers at Dublin’s iconic Croke Park, the NFL Commissioner revealed that the league is working toward a future in which all 32 teams play one game outside the United States each season.
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According to reporting by Brooke Pryor of ESPN, Goodell stated: “[O]ur next step after Australia is probably moving games into Asia. We are serious about being a global sport.”
That goal would require 16 international games per year, a significant leap from the current schedule.
As it stands, the NFL’s Collective Bargaining Agreement only permits a maximum of 10 international games each season. To hit the 16-game target, the league would need an updated CBA and cooperation from the NFL Players Association.
From Test Events to Long-Term Global Strategy
The NFL has already been planting seeds across the globe. Sunday’s matchup in Dublin marks the first regular-season game played in Ireland, while plans are already underway to bring a game to Melbourne, Australia, in 2026.
These efforts reflect a growing appetite for the sport in international markets and a deliberate strategy from the league office to explore where sustained fan interest could justify future expansion, or even relocation.
That’s also why the Vikings‘ unique 2025 schedule, which will see them play two road games in Europe (one in Ireland and another in London), is not considered part of the NFL’s 16-game vision.
Instead, it’s a separate initiative to test market viability in Europe, potentially as groundwork for a permanent team based abroad.
While the NFL has hosted international games in cities like London, Frankfurt, and Mexico City for years, the scale of Goodell‘s proposal suggests a deeper level of integration.
However, there are obstacles. The most significant is the NFLPA’s current instability following recent leadership turmoil.
The union would need to agree to modify the existing CBA to allow six additional international contests annually, a move unlikely to happen before the current agreement expires in 2031.
Despite that, the league’s commitment to global growth remains strong. From its marketing efforts in Germany and Brazil to its development programs in Africa and the U.K., the NFL is not hiding its aspirations. In Goodell‘s words, the NFL is “serious” about global expansion, and these games are more than just spectacles; they are stepping stones toward embedding football into the sporting cultures of new regions.
With strong international fan support, massive global broadcasting deals, and increasing participation in NFL-themed youth and flag football programs worldwide, the pieces are aligning.
What began as a novelty series of games overseas is now being shaped into a cornerstone of the league’s future.
If Goodell gets his way, global fans won’t just be watching the NFL, they’ll be attending it in their own backyards, every single year.
