The NFL almost always gets what it wants, but the league may not accomplish its stated goal of playing eight international games during the 2025 regular season.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell gave an update on the upcoming international slate during his annual state of the league press conference Monday. “We’re looking to try to get to eight games this year,” he said. “We may fall short of that, but we think we’ll get close to that. But I see that continuing to progress.”
So far, the NFL has announced three games in London, its debut in Berlin, and its first game in Madrid for the 2025 season. In November, Goodell said the league was “shooting for” eight games outside the U.S. this fall, including returns to Brazil and Mexico, as well as a debut in Ireland.
For the past three seasons, the NFL has played a record five international games, and team owners have approved playing up to eight in 2025. The ultimate goal remains to play double that outside domestic borders. “We do think that 16 is something that is realistic,” Goodell said Monday, reiterating his stance on the topic.
There could be news coming as soon as this week. On Wednesday afternoon, the NFL is hosting a press conference in New Orleans to discuss the league’s international expansion and global growth strategy. The NFL could announce more games to be played abroad or even its entire 2025 international slate.
Recent reports have linked the Steelers to playing in Ireland, hinted at a long-term partnership for the NFL in Brazil, and even pointed to the Rams and Eagles playing a regular-season game in Australia in 2026.
When asked about the Australia report Monday night, Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie said, “We are a natural team to play there. If there’s an opportunity to be an away team there, we will embrace that.”
Jordan Mailata, the standout Eagles tackle, is an Australian former rugby player. He signed a three-year, $66 million extension last season.
The NFL played five games in Mexico between 2016 and 2022 but has taken a hiatus from the country, while Estadio Azteca has undergone renovations ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America.
