NFL continues to expand its world view
IRVING, Texas — The NFL’s winter owner meetings this past week in Dallas were seemingly run by the cartoon duo Pinky and the Brain. “What are we going to do at these meetings?”
“The same thing we do every meeting . . . try to take over the world!”
Among several items accomplished over two days, the owners voted to expand their international footprint. They voted 31-1 (with the Bears the lone dissent) to increase the maximum number of international games per season from four to eight, starting in 2025.
The NFL also announced Sao Paolo, Brazil, as the latest international city to get a game, which will take place next season, in addition to two games at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and one in Munich. The Jaguars have their own deal to play an annual game at London’s Wembley Stadium through next season that does not count as part of the league’s initiative.
The NFL’s trip to Sao Paolo will mark the fifth continent on which the league has held a preseason or regularseason game (the last two to check off: Africa and Antarctica). Sao Paolo beat out Madrid for the 2024 game, but Madrid’s time is coming soon, likely in 2025. Paris, Australia, and Ghana, are among other locations being explored to varying degrees, in addition to London, Germany, and Mexico.
“Becoming a global sport is a major strategic priority for the league and 32 teams,” commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement.
The increase to eight international games per year means international travel is about to become a regular feature of every team’s schedule. Instead of each team giving up a home game for international play once every eight years, it will be once every four. And with the NFL holding eight international games a year, that means each team will play abroad every other year, on average.
The NFL’s expansion to 17 regularseason games in 2021 set up the league for more international play. It’s not hard to envision a world in the near future in which every team plays eight home games, eight road games, and one international game per season.
As for Sao Paolo, the Dolphins are the obvious candidate to go, as they are the only team to have marketing rights in Brazil in the NFL’s international marketing program. But it likely would have to be as the away team. The 2024 season is the NFC’s turn to host international games, since that conference will have the extra ninth home game, compared with eight for AFC teams. The Dolphins’ three NFC opponents next year will be the Rams, Seahawks, and one of the Lions/Packers/Vikings, based on final standings.
There’s one interesting wrinkle for next year’s Sao Paolo game: Don’t be surprised if the NFL schedules it as the Kickoff Game in Week 1. Playing on the opening Thursday would give the teams plenty of time to get down to Brazil, and 10 days to return home and get ready for their next game. Hosting the Kickoff Game internationally could become the NFL’s newest tradition. The defending Super Bowl champion would then get to host the opening “Sunday Night Football” game.
The international games are unfortunate for American fans who lose an opportunity to attend a game. Bears owner George McCaskey reportedly voted against the proposal for that reason, citing that his fans want to see elite quarterbacks such as Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts, and Tommy DeVito, drawing big laughs in the room.
But there’s no turning back. The NFL has its sights set on taking over the world.