NFL expands overseas games and books Brazil contest in 2024
The South American league’s first regular-season match was awarded to Sao Paulo’s Corinthians Arena. This is the home stadium of the Brazilian soccer team Corinthians and a venue used for the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Olympics.
NFL officials visited Madrid to discuss the possibility of an NFL game being held at the Santiago Bernabeu next year, home to soccer giants Real Madrid.
NEW YORK – The NFL owners voted Wednesday to hold a regular season game in Brazil in 2024 and to increase the number of international games from four to eight beginning in 2025.
In a meeting held at Dallas, the league awarded the first regular-season match to be played in South America, the Corinthians Arena of Sao Paulo, Brazil’s home soccer team Corinthians, and the venue for both the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Olympics.
Roger Goodell, the NFL commissioner, said: “Bringing the NFL into new continents and countries around the globe is an important element of our global growth plan.”
“Brazil is a significant market for the NFL, and we are excited to play in Brazil and Sao Paulo.
Next year, the NFL will host five regular season games abroad. These include Brazil and three matches in London – two at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and a third game at Wembley Stadium, a Jacksonville Jaguars home game.
In 2024, the NFL will return to Germany for a 3rd consecutive season at Allianz Arena Munich.
NFL officials visited Madrid to discuss the possibility of a game being played at the Santiago Bernabeu next year, home of the soccer giants Real Madrid. Having more fun around the world could help the NFL’s international expansion.
Goodell said, “Becoming a globally recognized sport is a strategic priority of the 32 teams and the league.”
The NFL announced that it would reveal later the new markets, host cities and stadiums of extra-global games.
The NFL International Committee Chairman and Owner of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Joel Glazer, said, “As a League, we welcome this update to the resolution, which will see us playing more international games than ever before. This will help us expand our global footprint and connect our athletes and teams with new audiences.”
In 2005, the NFL started playing regular-season matches at international venues when the Arizona Cardinals faced the San Francisco 49ers in Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca.
Since then, 50 NFL regular season games have been played in global venues, including 36 in London and six in Toronto. Five in Mexico City. Two in Frankfurt.
According to the agreement reached by NFL club owners, teams are only required to play regular-season games outside North America, rather than one in a given season unless they so desire.
The two opponents each team can choose for their regular season game will not be eligible to compete in a global match.
After the 14th week, no international games can be scheduled. Each club plays 17 matches over 18 weeks.
Brazil has the second-largest international fan base of passionate fans after Mexico.
