You've probably seen the highlights of the NFL in London or the chaotic energy of a game in Munich. It’s easy to think of these overseas trips as just a fun marketing gimmick. A week-long vacation for the players, maybe. But honestly, that's not even close to the reality of the situation anymore. The NFL International Series games have transformed from a "once-a-year" experiment into the league's primary engine for survival in a saturated media market.
Roger Goodell isn't just looking for new fans. He’s looking for a whole new continent.
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Why NFL International Series Games are Exploding Right Now
The numbers from the 2025 season were frankly ridiculous. We saw seven regular-season games played outside the U.S. borders, a new record. But it’s the demand that's scary. When the Pittsburgh Steelers played the Minnesota Vikings at Croke Park in Dublin back in September, over 600,000 digital devices were in the queue trying to snag tickets. Think about that for a second. That is enough people to fill that stadium eight times over.
Madrid was even wilder. Nearly 700,000 people tried to get into the Santiago Bernabéu to watch the Dolphins and Commanders. It’s basically a mini-Super Bowl every time the league touches down in a new city.
The 16-Game Goal
The league has been very open about where this is heading. They want 16 international games. Basically, every single team would play one game abroad every year. This isn't just talk; the NFL expanded its Global Markets Program to 29 clubs across 21 international markets in 2025. They’re planting flags in places you wouldn’t expect, like the Chargers getting marketing rights in Greece and the Commanders heading to the United Arab Emirates.
Breaking Down the 2025 Schedule and Beyond
If you missed the 2025 slate, it was the most diverse we've ever seen. Here is a quick look at how it shook out:
- São Paulo, Brazil: The season kicked off with the Chargers taking down the Chiefs 27-21. Brazil has quietly become one of the NFL's biggest fanbases outside North America.
- Dublin, Ireland: The Steelers beat the Vikings 24-21 in a game that felt more like a college football rivalry than a standard pro matchup.
- London, U.K.: Still the "home base" for the international push. Tottenham Hotspur Stadium saw the Vikings beat the Browns, and the Jets fall to the Broncos. Later, the Jaguars beat the Rams at Wembley.
- Berlin, Germany: The Colts took down the Falcons 31-25 in overtime. The atmosphere in Germany remains the gold standard for fan noise.
- Madrid, Spain: The Dolphins edged the Commanders 16-13 in another overtime thriller to close out the international calendar.
The Logistics are Kind of a Nightmare
You’ve got to feel for the equipment managers. Moving a professional football team across an ocean involves literally tons of gear. We're talking about 15,000 pounds of equipment per team. Everything from specialized kicking nets to trunks of spare cleats and medical supplies has to be cleared through customs weeks in advance.
Sleep is the other enemy. Teams have different philosophies on how to handle the jet lag. Some fly in on Monday or Tuesday to get acclimated to the time zone. Others, like the Jaguars (who are basically London's unofficial home team), have a routine down to a science. Then you have the "Friday fliers" who try to stay on East Coast time, play the game, and get out before their bodies realize they aren't in New Jersey anymore.
It’s a massive physical toll. This is why the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) has been so vocal about the expansion. If the league goes to 18 regular-season games, you can bet the 16-game international slate will be the biggest bargaining chip on the table.
Surprising Revenue Streams Nobody Talks About
While the gate receipts (ticket sales) are huge, that’s not the real reason the NFL is obsessed with these games. It’s the media rights. The 2025 international games on NFL Network averaged 6.2 million viewers. That’s a 32% jump from the previous year.
The league is basically creating a new "morning" television window for Americans. By playing at 9:30 AM EST, they aren't competing with the 1:00 PM or 4:00 PM games. It’s found money. Rumors are already swirling that the league could sell a dedicated "International Package" to a streamer like Amazon or YouTube for upwards of $1 billion a year.
The Australia Factor
Get ready for 2026. The NFL has already confirmed a game in Melbourne at the iconic MCG. The time difference there is going to be the biggest challenge yet. We might be looking at games that kick off at midnight or 2:00 AM on the U.S. East Coast. It sounds crazy, but the NFL has proven that if they put a game on, people will wake up (or stay up) to watch it.
Realities of Local Impact
Is it all good news? Mostly, but there are nuances. Fans in the U.S. hate losing a home game. If you're a season ticket holder and your team gets sent to Berlin, you're essentially losing the best part of your package. The NFL tries to mitigate this by picking teams that have "extra" home games in the 17-game schedule, but as the series grows, that math gets harder to balance.
On the flip side, the cities hosting these games see a massive economic boost. It's not just the game day; it's the "NFL House" pop-ups, the flag football clinics in local schools, and the thousands of fans traveling from neighboring countries. In Dublin, the league delivered over 900 flag football kits to schools as part of a grassroots push. They aren't just visiting; they’re trying to build a player pipeline.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Travelers
If you’re planning on attending one of these NFL International Series games, you need a strategy. This isn't like buying tickets for a game in Cincinnati.
- Register Early: The NFL uses a registration system for ticket interest. If you aren't on that email list months in advance, you’re stuck with the secondary market, where prices easily triple.
- Check the Venue: Playing at Wembley is a very different experience than Tottenham. Tottenham was built for the NFL; it has perfect sightlines and an artificial turf field that slides out from under the grass. Wembley is historic, but it’s a massive bowl where you might feel miles away from the action.
- The "Home Team" Experience: Even though the game is in Madrid or London, the stadium will be filled with jerseys from all 32 teams. It’s a celebration of football, not just the two teams on the field. Don’t be surprised if you’re sitting next to a guy in a full Raiders outfit while the Dolphins play the Commanders.
- Watch the Travel Waiver: If you’re a bettor, keep an eye on teams that don't take their bye week immediately after an international game. Historically, those teams struggle in the second half of their next game due to the "travel hangover."
The expansion is inevitable. With Rio de Janeiro, Mexico City, and even Paris on the radar for the next few years, the "International Series" might soon just be called "The NFL." It’s a global league now. We're just living in it.
Next Steps for You
- Check the 2026 Schedule: Keep an eye on the official NFL schedule release in May to see which teams are headed to Australia and the return to Mexico City.
- Join the Registry: Sign up on the NFL’s international portal now if you want any chance at face-value tickets for the upcoming European slate.
- Monitor the CBA Talks: Watch how the NFLPA responds to the 16-game international proposal, as this will dictate how many "home" games your team might lose in the future.