Just as the NFL crossed the halfway point of its five-game international series schedule this season, the idea of playing a Super Bowl outside the U.S. is gaining new life.
Before the Bears beat the Jaguars 35–16 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell was asked about the potential move at an annual fan forum in London on Saturday. “We’ve always traditionally tried to play a Super Bowl in an NFL city—that was always sort of a reward for the cities that have NFL franchises,” Goodell said. “But things change. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if that happens one day.”
Super Bowl hosts are set through 2027, with New Orleans, San Francisco, and Los Angeles on tap over the next three years. Atlanta is expected to be awarded the 2028 Super Bowl. Tottenham Hotspur Stadium opened in 2019 after being specifically designed to host NFL games, in addition to its primary sport, soccer.
What Goodell Has Said Before
Goodell’s comments over the weekend are a slight shift from what he said about Super Bowls last year in London. “I think right now our formula will stay the same about playing in cities that have franchises,” the commissioner said in October 2023.
While anything Goodell says should not be taken lightly, it should not be considered gospel, either. Last September, Goodell wouldn’t rule out the idea of a franchise outside the U.S. “I think it’s possible,” he said. This fall, Goodell has instead prioritized the potential of expanding the NFL’s international schedule to 16 games.
What’s Next?
The Jaguars “host” the Patriots at Wembley Stadium this coming Sunday, and the Panthers and Giants play in Munich, Germany next month. Next season, the NFL will play a game in Madrid, Spain, as part of an expanded eight-game international schedule.
In London over the weekend, Goodell also said he had “no doubt” that Ireland—likely Dublin—will host an NFL game soon. “I know the Steelers really want to go there,” he said. Pittsburgh is one of three franchises with international marketing rights in the country, alongside the Jaguars and Jets.
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