The National Football League (NFL) is significantly broadening its international presence, announcing regular-season games in Dublin, Madrid, and Berlin for the upcoming season. This marks the first time these cities will host regular-season NFL matchups. Additionally, the Los Angeles Rams will play a game in Melbourne, Australia, in 2026, marking the league's debut on that continent.
The Pittsburgh Steelers will play at Croke Park in Dublin, with their opponent yet to be announced. NFL executive vice president for international events, Peter O'Reilly, expressed excitement about bringing a regular-season game to Ireland and highlighted the enthusiasm of Irish fans. The Steelers previously played a preseason game at Croke Park against the Chicago Bears in 1997.
The Indianapolis Colts will be the home team for a game at Olympic Stadium in Berlin, while the Miami Dolphins will host a game at the Bernabéu, home of Real Madrid, in Madrid.
The Rams will be the home team for their 2026 Melbourne game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, a venue with a capacity of around 100,000. O’Reilly emphasized the significance of this expansion, highlighting the NFL's commitment to becoming a truly global sports property. He also noted that the Melbourne game would likely be scheduled in Week 1 to allow teams ample time to adjust to the time difference.
The NFL is considering hosting up to eight international games in 2025, including three in London. The New York Jets will be the home team for games at both Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Wembley Stadium, while the Cleveland Browns will also host a game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The league is also exploring the possibility of teams playing consecutive weeks in different European cities to further expand the game's global reach.
