NFL Wants to Expand International Slate, Will Evaluate Saudi Arabia

NEW YORK — The NFL’s record-setting international slate in 2025 will be the minimum baseline going forward as it builds toward its goal of a full-season schedule of such games.

The league’s seven-game schedule outside of the U.S., five of which have already elapsed, serves as the template for the plan for 2026 and beyond. Already, the NFL has announced firm plans to play next year in Melbourne and in Rio de Janeiro, and it has also expressed its desire to return to Mexico City next season. Beyond that, the schedule will likely involve a mix of existing international markets and some new ones—but with an ever-increasing profile overall.

Final decisions for next season’s international schedule will be made in the next few months. 

“We are evaluating whether we go beyond the ones that we have in place or do we go to new markets,” said NFL EVP Peter O’Reilly during the league’s fall meeting. “It’s not just about the stadium. It’s about the strategic value [of that market], what is the long-term value, what are the partnerships? I wouldn’t peg a specific number of countries that are ready, but we’ve laid out a dozen or 13 priority markets, and we’re starting to do the due diligence.”

All of this is a prelude to commissioner Roger Goodell’s goal of reaching a season-long schedule of international games. 

The league, meanwhile, said Saudi Arabia will be evaluated, like many other potential countries for the NFL Global Markets Program and potential future games, in the wake of newly expressed interest from that country.

“One of the great things from the last couple of years is the increased interest we’ve received,” said NFL SVP Gerrit Meier. “You don’t get that interest if you don’t signal to the world that you’re serious about expanding globally.”

Competitive Balance 

NFL officials, meanwhile, lauded the early part of the 2025 regular season in which six of the eight divisions have leaders or co-leaders that didn’t win those divisions last year, and nine teams that missed the postseason last year currently have .500 records or better.

While some traditional powerhouses, such as defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia, have remained strong, the initial part of the schedule has been defined in large part by the elevation of teams such as the Broncos, Patriots, and Seahawks.

“You can go from worst to first, and after seven weeks of play, we’re seeing that,” said NFL EVP of football operations Troy Vincent.

League officials also lauded the 79.3% return rate for kickoffs so far this season, more than double the comparable figure from this point in 2024, as the dynamic kickoff, further tweaked for 2025, continues to have a significant impact.

“I’m just happy that the foot is still in the game,” Vincent said.