NFL expects to choose city soon for future game in Germany

The NFL has returned to London with the Falcons facing the New York Jets on Sunday but the league is just as focused on its next international destination: Germany. Brett Gosper, NFL Head of UK and Europe, said the league is finalizing a short list of German cities to host a game as early as next season. The opening of an office in Germany is “reasonably imminent,”he added, as is the hiring of a general manager there as the league expands, with France and Spain also in its sights.

Eight cities in Germany expressed interest in becoming a partner city to host a regularseason game, he said. The NFL announced a bidding process in June.“we will whittle down to three and we’re hoping we’ll be able to announce something in the next week or two,” Gosper said.

The announcement could coincide with Commissioner Roger Goodell’s expected trip to London during the International Series. After the Falcons face the Jets, the Jaguars play the Dolphins a week later. Both games will be held at the stadium of Premier League soccer team Tottenham.

Gosper declined to identify the likely German finalists but a regular-season game in Germany seems a question of when, not if, with a decision expected by the end of the year. Gosper said the “only hesitation” for 2022 would be scheduling conflicts with the World Cup, which begins next November in Qatar.“if we can solve those, then it could be ’22. Certainly no later than ’23,” he said. A suitable stadium is the biggest factor. Dortmund, Berlin, Gelsenkirchen and Stuttgart each has a stadium — and Munich has two — capable of holding at least 60,000 fans.